Penrose of the Penrose drain

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Abstract 

GASTROENTEROLOGY 2002;122:1215

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• Copyright holder unknown. Photo obtained from the National Library of Medicine Website (http:///www.nlm.nih.gov).

Charles Bingham Penrose (1862–1925) was born in Philadelphia, obtained his A.B. degree at Harvard and his M.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He took his postgraduate training at Pennsylvania Hospital in his native city, then later became professor of gynecology at the University of Pennsylvania. Recognizing the importance of assuring drainage from potentially contaminated wounds and dissatisfied with the glass and plain rubber tubes then in use, Penrose devised a wick of braided cotton encased within a thin but impermeable rubber sheath (the first sheath being a simple condom). An avid outdoorsman, Penrose served as a member of the Pennsylvania Game Commission and also as president of the Philadelphia Zoological Society.