William Mitchell Banks

Sir William Mitchell Banks (1 November 1842 – 9 August 1904) was a Scottish surgeon. He was an early advocate of what is now called the modified radical mastectomy.

Life Banks was born in Edinburgh, the son of Ann Williamson and Peter Spalding Banks. He took up a post at the Infirmary School of Medicine, Liverpool, and was surgeon of the Liverpool Royal Infirmary from 1877 to 1902, when he resigned and was appointed Consulting Surgeon. He died on 9 August 1904, while travelling, in Aix-la-Chapelle.

Banks describes his operation in the following manner, "Now having cleared out the axilla forty-one times, I have naturally come to know something about the state of the glands; and the first point was recognized of the fact that, until we have these glands in our hand and have split them open with a knife, we cannot tell whether they are infected or not. The usual fumbling in the axilla which is practised by surgeons tells nothing. When the glands are a big as walnuts, any first year's student, can tell they are infected; but there is a stage -the earlier stage- when there are certainly affected, and yet to touch through layers of skin fat, nothing amiss, can be felt. As a result of this, I came to the conclusion, about three years ago, that in every case where the breast is removed, the axilla should be cleared out as a necessary accomplainment; and this I beg to urge upon the meeting, The one operation is useless without the other. As you cannot tell whether the glands are infected or not, remove them and dissipate the doubt."

Family He was the father of Conservative Member of Parliament and County Court judge Sir Reginald Mitchell Banks.