[ad. late L. lithotomia, a. Gr. λιθοτομία, f. λίθο-ς stone + -τομία cutting.]
1. The operation, art or process of cutting for stone in the bladder.
1721. in Bailey.
1722. in Quincy, Lex. Phys.-Med. (ed. 2).
1783. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 2), X. 8431/1. (marg.) Lithotomy reckoned exceedingly dangerous by the ancients.
1800. Med. Jrnl., III. 193. I was induced to make use of a Bistoire Caché, in the operation of Lithotomy.
1846. Brittan, trans. Malgaigne’s Man. Oper. Surg., 508. Three principal methods: perineal lithotomy, recto-vesical lithotomy, hypogastric lithotomy.
1875. Sir W. Turner, in Encycl. Brit., I. 815/1. The lateral operation of lithotomy.
attrib. 1871. Holmes, Syst. Surg. (ed. 2), V. 1083. Surgeons seem still divided in opinion as to whether a lithotomy knife should or should not be beaked.
1878. T. Bryant, Pract. Surg., I. 699. Lithotomy scoops or forceps.
1879. St. George’s Hosp. Rep., IX. 271. The patient was placed in the lithotomy position. Ibid., 344. A lithotomy tube was passed into the bladder, and tied in.
† 2. [After Gr.] A quarry. Obs.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Lithotomy, a Masons Work-house, or quarry; also a Prison. D. Br. [i.e., Sir T. Browne] useth it.
