Letter from William Bowman to Richard Butcher Manuscript letter from William Bowman to Richard Butcher providing details of a case of excision carried out by the author, although initially successful the writer now 'despairs of her life'. Bowman notes that 'Professor Pancoast and his son were present at the operation which they had not witnessed before'. He ends by stating that if presented with the same circumstances again he would opt for amputation. 29 September 1856