Hunter kept a careful record of his surgical operations. This extract details a patient’s neck tumour:
John Burley, a Rigger, thirty-seven years of age, of a middle size, dark complexion, and healthy constitution; about sixteen years ago, fell down, & bruised his cheek on the left side, above the parotid gland. It was attended with a good deal of pain, which in four or five weeks went off, and the part began to swell gradually, and continued increasing for four or five years, attended but with little pain.
At this time it was increased to the size of a common head, attended with no other inconvenience than its size and weight. He again fell, and received a wound on its side, which gave considerable pain at first, but it got…