Rutherford Morison

Biography

• Born on October 10, 1853 in Hutton-Henry, County Durham. Son of surgeon John Morison surgeon to the Wingate Grange, Trindon Grange, and Rodridge Collieries
• 1874 – LRCP
• 1875 – MB, Edinburgh University
• 1876-1878 Dresser to Joseph Lister (1827-1912); house surgeon to Patrick Heron Watson (1832-1907) at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary; resident physician to the obstetric ward then resident medical officer to the Cowgate Dispensary
• 1878 – Postgraduate training under Theodor Billroth (1829-1894) in Vienna
• 1879 – FRCS; Commenced general practice in Hartlepool
• 1881 – Elected physician to the Hartlepool Hospital
• 1888 – Assistant surgeon at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Newcastle under the influence of Sir David Drummond (1852 – 1932)
• 1890 – MRCS
• 1897 – Editor of the Journal of the Northumberland and Durham Medical Society
• 1905 – Staff surgeon at the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
• 1910 – Professor of surgery at the University of Durham until 1921
• 1916 – Whilst serving in the Northumberland War Hospital, he introduced BIPP to operations
• 1919 – Hon LLD; MA; and DCL Durham. Elected fellow of the American College of Surgeons
• Died on January 9, 1939 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Medical Eponyms

Pouch of Rutherford Morison (1894)

Morison pouch, also known as the posterior right subhepatic space, hepatorenal fossa; or subhepatic recess, is a potential space which separates the liver from the right kidney.

As a potential space, it is not filled with any fluid in normal conditions. However, as one of the lowest dependent spaces in the peritoneal cavity, fluid such as ascites or blood often may fill the potential space. It is also a preferential site for metastases and abscesses.

The posterior right subhepatic space is separated from the anterior right subhepatic space by the transverse mesocolon. The space communicates with the right subphrenic space; right paracolic gutter; and the lesser sac (via the epiploic foramen of Winslow).

History

1894 – Morison published his anatomic description of the hepatorenal space; its role in the surgical treatment of gallbladder disease; and proposed the value of postoperative drainage of that space.

Morison indicated that with the liver retracted upward and the transverse colon downward, one would expose a potential space. The proposed space has an anterior wall bounded right to left by the peritoneal surface of the diaphragm and the undersurface of the right lobe of the liver and gallbladder, extending to the gastrohepatic ligament. The posterior wall formed by the ascending mesocolon over the right kidney and by the duodenum.

…underneath the right lobe of the liver there exists a pouch hitherto undescribed, shut off by natural barriers from the general peritoneal cavity….By the relation of nine cases in which the operation for gall-stone was performed in accordance with the principles I was advocating, I endeavored to show that the secret of success in gall-stone operations was efficient drainage of the pouch demonstrated.

Rutherford Morison 1895

Morison proposed that the drain tract for this space would most advantageously exit in the area of the lower pole of the right kidney. Morison viewed provision for adequate postcholecystectomy drainage of this dependent space as a paramount feature of a successful operation.

BIPP: Bismuth, iodoform and paraffin paste

Morison introduced “BIPP” for the prophylaxis of sepsis in traumatic war wounds sutured primarily.

WOUND infection has been the great surgical curse of this war. Until recently all the means I had seen tried at our War Hospital had failed to satisfy the most moderate surgical ambitions. Since I have now developed a simple method, necessitating but few dressings, by which many wounds can be sterilised at once, while in the remainder, so far as my present experience goes, the spread of infection can be checked and limited, I consider it a duty to submit results without further delay.

The paste : Bismuth subnitrate, 1 oz.; iodoform 2 oz.; paraffin liq. q.s. to make a thick paste. I suggest for this the name “Bipp.” A convenient means of applying it was suggested to me by Sister Middleton, of Ward 20. She gave me two bone eggspoon , one to lift the paste and the second to plaster it in and on with.

Rutherford Morison: Lancet, 1916

In the Lancet 1916, I published a method of treating infected, suppurating war wounds, and claimed for it that in some cases sterilisation of the wound could be accomplished at once, and that in the remainder the spread of infection could be checked and limited…

Rutherford Morison: BJS, 1916

BIPP is still used today in many otolaryngology departments.

BIPP has relatively few adverse effects when used in small quantities. Incidence of BIPP allergy has been estimated as high as 12 per cent with previous exposure, or 1 per cent without. Large quantities have been associated with both bismuth and iodoform toxicity, occasionally causing fatalities. This was first seen by some British army surgeons who deviated from Morrison’s initial regime of a “smear” as well as in modern practice. BIPP should therefore be used with caution when packing large cavities such as those following maxillectomy.

On CT imaging, BIPP can cause image degradation and streak artefacts due to its high attenuation (>3000 Hounsfield units).

Major Publications

• Morison JR The anatomy of right hypochondrium relating especially to operations for gall stones. Br Med J 1894; 2: 968-971 [Morison Pouch]
• Morison R. On Gall-stones. Ann Surg. 1895; 22(2): 181–204. [Morison Pouch]
• Morison R. A Case of ascites due to liver cirrhosis treated by operation. Ann Surg. 1903; 38(3): 361-6
• Morison R. XI. A Clamp for the Fixation of Ununited Fractures. Ann Surg. 1909; 50(6): 1114–1117.
• Rutherford Morison J. An introduction to surgery. 1910
• Rutherford Morison, Richardson WG. Abdominal injuries. 1915
• Rutherford Morison J. The treatment of infected suppurating war wounds. The Lancet, 1916; 188(4850): 268-272. [BIPP]
• Rutherford Morison J. The treatment of infected suppurating war wounds. British Journal of Surgery 1916; 4(16): 659-678 [BIPP]
• Rutherford Morison. Surgical contributions from 1881-1916 – General Surgery. 1916
• Rutherford Morison. Surgical contributions from 1881-1916 – Abdominal Surgery. 1916
• Rutherford Morison J. BIPP treatment of war wounds. 1918

References

Biography

• Biography: Presentation to Rutherford Morison. Br Med J 1915; 2: 455
• Obituary: James Rutherford Morison. Br Med J 1939;1:139; 1939;1:194
• Obituary: James Rutherford Morison. Lancet; 233(6021): 178
• Biography: James Rutherford Morison. Plarr’s Lives of the Fellows Online. Royal College of Surgeons of England.
• Bibliography. James Rutherford Morison. World Cat Identities

Eponymous terms

• Gilliam JW Jr, Schein CJ. The Morison Pouch. Arch Surg. 1976; 111(3): 227-228
• Hajdu N, de Lacey G. The Rutherford Morison pouch; a characteristic appearance on abdominal radiographs. Br J Radiol. 1970; 43(514): 706-9
• Crossland, G., & Bath, A. (2011). Bismuth iodoform paraffin paste: a review. The Journal of Laryngology & Otology, 2011; 125(9): 891-895.

Rutherford Morison Medallion Portrait

You, Sir, might be disappointed if I did not say that we have all felt the value of your chastening, but your honesty of purpose and absolute fairness always supplied the balm with the Sting, and we gratefully acknowledge the lessons impressed in this way. 

George Grey Turner, presenting medallion to his boss in 1915

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