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ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, PARIS.
184 In the afternoon
no water had passed; and she sank that The inspection after death revealed the cause of all this. On opening the abdomen, the walls of which were three inches thick, its cavity was found occupied by a large tumour, which had displaced the intestines, reaching upwards to the umbilicus, and extending laterally to the iliac fossa. The mass of the tumour lay on the left side, and had nearly incorporated the uterus, which, with the right ovary, was seen, after raising the tumour, projecting from its right margin. The bladder was contracted and empty, but the ureters were both compressed by the tumour, and consequently enormously distended and tortuous. The kidneys were enlarged, and in an advanced stage of Bright’s disease. The whole mass was then removed, together with the bladder and the upper portion of the vagina. The day following, a more careful examination was made of the tumour, which was found to be fibrous, and engaging the whole posterior wall of the uterus in such a manner, that it appeared to be drawn up over the tumour; the fundus occupying the top of the tumour; the neck stretched for some inches along its anterior surface, and expanded over it. The uterus was, in fact, drawn completely out of the pelvis by the increasing tumour, and was then lengthened out on its surface by its further advance. A section of the tumour was made, which presented the usual characters of fibrous structure, a small portion in the centre was softer and more pliable than the rest of the tissue. The point of interest in this case seems to be the rather unusual position of the tumour occupying the pelvis so completely as to displace the uterus altogether; it may also prove the importance of pushing such a tumour, if possible, when of less size, out of the pelvis into the abdomen. I do not know whether this could have been done during the progress of its growth, but if it were possible, it might have prolonged this woman’s life. I have satisfactory evidence that it is quite possible for a tumour of this kind to grow to an enormous size the abdomen, without giving rise to dangerous symptoms. I saw once an immense fibrous mass that occupied the I whole abdomen; the uterus (as in this case) was drawn up with it as it grew, so that the cervix uteri was prolonged ’, into a narrow canal more than six inches in length. Yet this woman lived for years in this way, and ultimately died of ’, disease of the lungs. The woman suffered from symptoms ’, of retention of urine, yet the bladder was contracted and ’, - empty. Could this arise from distention of the ureters ? Mr. 1. B. BROWN related the case of a lady who had a tumour in the uterus, from which there was constant haamorrhage. Nothing had any effect on this. The tumour, which was as large as an egg, and had a very large base, was removed by the scissors, and the patient quite recovered. ’, Mr. B. TRAVERS related a case to show the effects of pres- I, sure on the ureters and kidneys, in causing a frequent and urgent desire to micturate. A gentleman suffered from a
night.
in
’
In the first class of cases it was not only given inwith the effect of much improving the general health, but it was applied locally to scrofulous sores, with the most marked benefit. In phthisis it appeared to exert its influence at once by its nutritious properties. It checked perspiration and removed emaciation; and appeared, by keeping up the tone of the system, to arrest the further deposition of tubercular matter. Some thought that any oily substance, as butter, or almond oil, would have the same effect; others considered the cod-liver oil to have some specific influence. One gentleman had found it rather injurious than otherwise in some cases of phthisis, from its tendency to disorder the diges. tive organs. Altogether, however, the opinion generally was decidedly in its favour as a palliative agent in consumption.
phthisis. ternally,
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, PARIS. JANUARY 29, 1849.—M. BOUSSINGAULT IN THE CHAIR. M. MALGAIGNE begged the Academy to appoint a committee, who should report upon his method of keeping the tibia immovable in oblique fractures of the leg and in tibio-tarsal luxations. For the last eight years M. Malgaigne has been using a kind of screw, ending in a point, which, by pressing upon the tibia through the integuments, exercises very great compression, and leaves the luxated or fractured spot free of any covering. This new method was at first unfavourably received, but it has since been extensively applied, both by French and foreign surgeons. There are now at the Hopital St. Louis, four patients severally labouring under fracture of the leg and dislocation of the foot. One of these has been successfully treated by the screw, and the three others have now the apparatus upon them. The committee will have to decide upon a fact little expected by physiologists-namely, a pointed steel instrument pressing upon a bone through the integuments, during one, two, three, and four weeks, without causing any swelling, redness, inflammation, or suppuration. The members of the committee named, are MM. Roux, Velpeau, and
Rayer. M. JULES Roux (chief surgeon of the navy, at Cherbourg) communicated the details of a case where he performed the disarticulation of the thigh for deep-seated angio-leucitis. The patient died, but from the facts elicited, M. Roux draws the fol. lowing conclusions :-1. Deep-seated angio-leucitis is in certain instances a case for amputation. 2. Chloroform has been used without danger with a patient weakened by a long suppuration and intense pain. 3. The local application of chloroform, during five minutes, over the extensive surface left by the extirpation of the thigh, diminished the pain very remarkably, and had no unpleasant influence on the wound or the organism. M. CARDAN sent a paper relative to the birth of twins, one.of whom was eight months old, the other about four or four and a The first was fully developed, and seemed to have died but very recently. The cord of the second feetus was fixed on the surface of the ovum, not continuously, but by mere contiguity. The child was placed on a sort of sac, just as the liver and spleen The author thinks that the are enclosed in a peritonæal fold. circulation of the latter fœtus must have been carried on by
’I I half.
frequent desire to pass urine. Catheters were occasionally passed, but the disease went on. A small stone passed from
kidneys into the bladder.
The stone was broken and reto micturate left him. This desire had not arisen from a distended bladder, but from the irritation produced on the kidney and ureter by the stone. Mr. HANCOCK related the case of a man who had frequent inability and constant desire to pass urine. Only two tablespoonfuls were removed at the time by the catheter. The After man was seized with diarrhoea, which proved fatal. death, stricture of the ureter on one side was found to exist. The tube above the stricture was distended to the size of the intestine. The cortical substance of the kidney was almost absorbed. The other kidney was affected in a less degree with the same disease. Mr. GREENHALGH detailed some particulars of a case of adhesion of the fundus of the uterus to the rectum, which simulated tumour of the uterus.
the
moved, and the frequent desire
SATURDAY,
FEBRUARY 3, 1848.
COD-LIVER OIL IN PHTHISIS AND SCROFULA.
A discussion took place, which had its origin in the fact of Mr. Wing having, at the previous meeting, brought down to the Society two cods’ livers, with the view of getting some fellow of the Society to obtain the oil from them. He was induced to take this step in consequence of the great discrepancy of opinion which prevailed respecting the true character of genuine cod-liver oil. He was desirous to know, from practical experiment, what were the characters of the pure oil. Many fellows addressed the Society on the subject. The majority of the fellows stated that they had found the oil to possess a very marked effect in almost all cases of scrofula and
endosmose.
The Minister for Public Instruction sent to the
report of the inspectors of public buildings,
on
Academy
a
the propriety of
of zinc for white lead in the ,rts. The inspectors are, in a hygienic point of view, favourable to the zinc. This report is referred to the committee of the Academy entrusted with this question.
substituting oxide
ACADEMY OF
MEDICINE, PARIS.
JANUARY 30, 1849.—M. VELPEAU
IN THE
CHAIR.
MucH excitement was caused in this sitting by the interchange of very hostile expressions between M. Malgaigne, the reporter on the chloroform question, and M. Jules Guérin, the editor of the Gazetle Médicale. Fuelirgs of a very inimical description have existed between these two gentlemen for several years past, and the latter seized the present opportunity, in order to attack with great animosity every one of the conclusions in M. Malgaigne’s report. Matters have gone so far that a challenge was sent. One of the belligerent parties is said to have refused it, in adding the following sensible words-°° A pistol-shot proves very little, and a sword-thrust nothing at all." Thus has chloroform, that somniferous agent, par excellence, been the means of rousing the ire of sober academicians. Dr. H. GUENEAU
DE
Mussy, who is attending the Orleans
family, is named Knight
of the Order of Leopold of Belgium.
no water had passed; and she sank that The inspection after death revealed the cause of all this. On opening the abdomen, the walls of which were three inches thick, its cavity was found occupied by a large tumour, which had displaced the intestines, reaching upwards to the umbilicus, and extending laterally to the iliac fossa. The mass of the tumour lay on the left side, and had nearly incorporated the uterus, which, with the right ovary, was seen, after raising the tumour, projecting from its right margin. The bladder was contracted and empty, but the ureters were both compressed by the tumour, and consequently enormously distended and tortuous. The kidneys were enlarged, and in an advanced stage of Bright’s disease. The whole mass was then removed, together with the bladder and the upper portion of the vagina. The day following, a more careful examination was made of the tumour, which was found to be fibrous, and engaging the whole posterior wall of the uterus in such a manner, that it appeared to be drawn up over the tumour; the fundus occupying the top of the tumour; the neck stretched for some inches along its anterior surface, and expanded over it. The uterus was, in fact, drawn completely out of the pelvis by the increasing tumour, and was then lengthened out on its surface by its further advance. A section of the tumour was made, which presented the usual characters of fibrous structure, a small portion in the centre was softer and more pliable than the rest of the tissue. The point of interest in this case seems to be the rather unusual position of the tumour occupying the pelvis so completely as to displace the uterus altogether; it may also prove the importance of pushing such a tumour, if possible, when of less size, out of the pelvis into the abdomen. I do not know whether this could have been done during the progress of its growth, but if it were possible, it might have prolonged this woman’s life. I have satisfactory evidence that it is quite possible for a tumour of this kind to grow to an enormous size the abdomen, without giving rise to dangerous symptoms. I saw once an immense fibrous mass that occupied the I whole abdomen; the uterus (as in this case) was drawn up with it as it grew, so that the cervix uteri was prolonged ’, into a narrow canal more than six inches in length. Yet this woman lived for years in this way, and ultimately died of ’, disease of the lungs. The woman suffered from symptoms ’, of retention of urine, yet the bladder was contracted and ’, - empty. Could this arise from distention of the ureters ? Mr. 1. B. BROWN related the case of a lady who had a tumour in the uterus, from which there was constant haamorrhage. Nothing had any effect on this. The tumour, which was as large as an egg, and had a very large base, was removed by the scissors, and the patient quite recovered. ’, Mr. B. TRAVERS related a case to show the effects of pres- I, sure on the ureters and kidneys, in causing a frequent and urgent desire to micturate. A gentleman suffered from a
night.
in
’
In the first class of cases it was not only given inwith the effect of much improving the general health, but it was applied locally to scrofulous sores, with the most marked benefit. In phthisis it appeared to exert its influence at once by its nutritious properties. It checked perspiration and removed emaciation; and appeared, by keeping up the tone of the system, to arrest the further deposition of tubercular matter. Some thought that any oily substance, as butter, or almond oil, would have the same effect; others considered the cod-liver oil to have some specific influence. One gentleman had found it rather injurious than otherwise in some cases of phthisis, from its tendency to disorder the diges. tive organs. Altogether, however, the opinion generally was decidedly in its favour as a palliative agent in consumption.
phthisis. ternally,
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, PARIS. JANUARY 29, 1849.—M. BOUSSINGAULT IN THE CHAIR. M. MALGAIGNE begged the Academy to appoint a committee, who should report upon his method of keeping the tibia immovable in oblique fractures of the leg and in tibio-tarsal luxations. For the last eight years M. Malgaigne has been using a kind of screw, ending in a point, which, by pressing upon the tibia through the integuments, exercises very great compression, and leaves the luxated or fractured spot free of any covering. This new method was at first unfavourably received, but it has since been extensively applied, both by French and foreign surgeons. There are now at the Hopital St. Louis, four patients severally labouring under fracture of the leg and dislocation of the foot. One of these has been successfully treated by the screw, and the three others have now the apparatus upon them. The committee will have to decide upon a fact little expected by physiologists-namely, a pointed steel instrument pressing upon a bone through the integuments, during one, two, three, and four weeks, without causing any swelling, redness, inflammation, or suppuration. The members of the committee named, are MM. Roux, Velpeau, and
Rayer. M. JULES Roux (chief surgeon of the navy, at Cherbourg) communicated the details of a case where he performed the disarticulation of the thigh for deep-seated angio-leucitis. The patient died, but from the facts elicited, M. Roux draws the fol. lowing conclusions :-1. Deep-seated angio-leucitis is in certain instances a case for amputation. 2. Chloroform has been used without danger with a patient weakened by a long suppuration and intense pain. 3. The local application of chloroform, during five minutes, over the extensive surface left by the extirpation of the thigh, diminished the pain very remarkably, and had no unpleasant influence on the wound or the organism. M. CARDAN sent a paper relative to the birth of twins, one.of whom was eight months old, the other about four or four and a The first was fully developed, and seemed to have died but very recently. The cord of the second feetus was fixed on the surface of the ovum, not continuously, but by mere contiguity. The child was placed on a sort of sac, just as the liver and spleen The author thinks that the are enclosed in a peritonæal fold. circulation of the latter fœtus must have been carried on by
’I I half.
frequent desire to pass urine. Catheters were occasionally passed, but the disease went on. A small stone passed from
kidneys into the bladder.
The stone was broken and reto micturate left him. This desire had not arisen from a distended bladder, but from the irritation produced on the kidney and ureter by the stone. Mr. HANCOCK related the case of a man who had frequent inability and constant desire to pass urine. Only two tablespoonfuls were removed at the time by the catheter. The After man was seized with diarrhoea, which proved fatal. death, stricture of the ureter on one side was found to exist. The tube above the stricture was distended to the size of the intestine. The cortical substance of the kidney was almost absorbed. The other kidney was affected in a less degree with the same disease. Mr. GREENHALGH detailed some particulars of a case of adhesion of the fundus of the uterus to the rectum, which simulated tumour of the uterus.
the
moved, and the frequent desire
SATURDAY,
FEBRUARY 3, 1848.
COD-LIVER OIL IN PHTHISIS AND SCROFULA.
A discussion took place, which had its origin in the fact of Mr. Wing having, at the previous meeting, brought down to the Society two cods’ livers, with the view of getting some fellow of the Society to obtain the oil from them. He was induced to take this step in consequence of the great discrepancy of opinion which prevailed respecting the true character of genuine cod-liver oil. He was desirous to know, from practical experiment, what were the characters of the pure oil. Many fellows addressed the Society on the subject. The majority of the fellows stated that they had found the oil to possess a very marked effect in almost all cases of scrofula and
endosmose.
The Minister for Public Instruction sent to the
report of the inspectors of public buildings,
on
Academy
a
the propriety of
of zinc for white lead in the ,rts. The inspectors are, in a hygienic point of view, favourable to the zinc. This report is referred to the committee of the Academy entrusted with this question.
substituting oxide
ACADEMY OF
MEDICINE, PARIS.
JANUARY 30, 1849.—M. VELPEAU
IN THE
CHAIR.
MucH excitement was caused in this sitting by the interchange of very hostile expressions between M. Malgaigne, the reporter on the chloroform question, and M. Jules Guérin, the editor of the Gazetle Médicale. Fuelirgs of a very inimical description have existed between these two gentlemen for several years past, and the latter seized the present opportunity, in order to attack with great animosity every one of the conclusions in M. Malgaigne’s report. Matters have gone so far that a challenge was sent. One of the belligerent parties is said to have refused it, in adding the following sensible words-°° A pistol-shot proves very little, and a sword-thrust nothing at all." Thus has chloroform, that somniferous agent, par excellence, been the means of rousing the ire of sober academicians. Dr. H. GUENEAU
DE
Mussy, who is attending the Orleans
family, is named Knight
of the Order of Leopold of Belgium.