#james syme

[mariaangels]

James Syme

[biomedicalephemera]

Osteosarcoma, before and after operation

Osteosarcoma are cancerous bone tumors found in immature bone, most often in those over 10 and under 25 years old. This particular case is in a man named Robert Penman, who was twenty-four. 

These days, in those whose tumor is non-malignant (has not spread beyond its original tumor site), the five-year survival rate is about 75%. Back in 1839, I cant imagine this lad was quite as lucky, but it appears that at least the primary tumor was removed for a time.

Case of Osteo-sarcoma of the lower jaw, as operated upon Robert Penman, aged twenty-four years. 1839.

[ltwilliammowett]

A carpenter’s chest from the 120-gun first rate ship of the line H.M.S. St. Vincent, mid-19th century

[jesyme]

From the Peter von Ziegesar documentary series I photographed between 1998-2012.

October 31, 1999

We leave Grants, New Mexico around 9 a.m. Mount Taylor’s eastern slope glows yellow in the morning light and blue in her western shadows.

Peter is silent, except for the noise he makes every twenty minutes as he works the phlegm out of his lungs by sucking air through his nose and down into his throat. This action is linked with his constant fascination with the electric window. His idea is to measure the smallest size opening he needs to successfully spit from a car traveling at seventy miles per hour, while remaining in a sitting position. The maneuver requires Peter to open and close the window once or twice to gauge the delay stop as the plastic toggle switch is released. When he completes his calculations he pulls away from his seat ever so slightly, hits the toggle switch on, and as the window rolls down, he turns his head to the right, and with complete confidence in his reckoning, spits. The toggle switch remains guarded with his right hand. Up the window goes as soon as the spittle is projected; instantly Peter’s head rotates clockwise as his eyes follow the progress of his phlegm projectile toward the rear of the car. He never misses.

J.S.

[mariaangels]

James Syme

[mariaangels]

James Syme

[mariaangels]

James Syme

[mariaangels]

James Syme