The surgical skills needed to remove, rebuild and reconstruct a persons face after major surgery have been perfected over the centuries. When these surgical techniques and skills were being discovered there were no small incisions, cameras or keyhole surgery! To see the before and after of major surgery is something we can easily do now through magazines, the internet, newspapers etc. What about in 1869?
Maurice Henry Collis presented a photograph album to the RCSI in 1869 which contains before and after photographs of numerous surgical reconstructions carried out by Collis. In 1867 Collis successfully removed an enormous ossified enchondroma from the left side of Mr. Battersby's face. Mr. Battersby was a well known individual in Dublin whose tumour had been growing for 20 years.
It is not known what year Collis was born but he was the son of Rev. Robert Fitzgerald Collis and his wife Maria. He attended Dungannon School before entering university.In 1847 he received his B.A. which was followed by his M.A. in 1848. He was apprenticed to his uncle, Surgeon Collis, and took lecture at the RCSI, Trinity College and the Meath Hospital. Collis received his license from the College on 14th May 1847 and became a Fellow in May 1850.
Once qualified Collis made his way to Paris to complete his studies. He returned to Dublin and became an Anatomical Demonstrator in the College. In 1851 Collis was elected Surgeon in the Meath Hospital and in 1853 he was Lecturer on Surgery in the Dublin School of Medicine, Peter Street. He received his M.D. in 1867 and sat on the Council and Court of Examiners in the College for a number of years.
While excising an upper jaw for malignant disease Collis received a slight cut on his hand from a splinter of the diseased bone. Collis developed pyaemic poisoning and died 7 days later on 28th March 1869. His premature death was a shock and great loss to his medical brethren and the public. Collis was accompanied to his final resting place in Mount Jerome by an immense crowd of mourners. Collis was survived by his wife, Sarah, and his three sons and four daughters.
- Researched and written by Meadhbh Murphy
Enter: Maurice Henry Collis
Maurice Henry Collis presented a photograph album to the RCSI in 1869 which contains before and after photographs of numerous surgical reconstructions carried out by Collis. In 1867 Collis successfully removed an enormous ossified enchondroma from the left side of Mr. Battersby's face. Mr. Battersby was a well known individual in Dublin whose tumour had been growing for 20 years.
 |
| Mr. Battersby before his surgery (RCSI/IP/Collis/1) |
 |
| Mr. Battersby after his surgery (RCSI/IP/Collis/1) |
It is not known what year Collis was born but he was the son of Rev. Robert Fitzgerald Collis and his wife Maria. He attended Dungannon School before entering university.In 1847 he received his B.A. which was followed by his M.A. in 1848. He was apprenticed to his uncle, Surgeon Collis, and took lecture at the RCSI, Trinity College and the Meath Hospital. Collis received his license from the College on 14th May 1847 and became a Fellow in May 1850.
 |
| RCSI Roll of Licentiates (RCSI/LIC/01) |
Once qualified Collis made his way to Paris to complete his studies. He returned to Dublin and became an Anatomical Demonstrator in the College. In 1851 Collis was elected Surgeon in the Meath Hospital and in 1853 he was Lecturer on Surgery in the Dublin School of Medicine, Peter Street. He received his M.D. in 1867 and sat on the Council and Court of Examiners in the College for a number of years.
While excising an upper jaw for malignant disease Collis received a slight cut on his hand from a splinter of the diseased bone. Collis developed pyaemic poisoning and died 7 days later on 28th March 1869. His premature death was a shock and great loss to his medical brethren and the public. Collis was accompanied to his final resting place in Mount Jerome by an immense crowd of mourners. Collis was survived by his wife, Sarah, and his three sons and four daughters.
- Researched and written by Meadhbh Murphy