SUMMARY OF HOSPITAL CASES.

SUMMARY OF HOSPITAL CASES.

293 be plentifully used in the ward from whence he had been re- as the disease advanced. The vomiting was in many instances moved. This man, after suf...

449KB Sizes 0 Downloads 55 Views

293 be plentifully used in the ward from whence he had been re- as the disease advanced. The vomiting was in many instances moved. This man, after suffering from profuse diarrhoea, and a well-marked and distressing symptom, preventing the patient frequent vomiting, died of broncho-pneumonia in the course of from retaining any sustenance on the stomach, and rapidly a few days. tending to exhaust him. The pyrexia accompanying this eryCASE 2.-In the bed adjoining the one into which the above- sipelas speedily assumed the atonic type. These symptoms, named patient had been admitted for two hours, lay a man which so peculiarly and strikingly marked the evolution of with iliac and lumbar abscess, from whence a portion of the cutaneous erysipelas, occurred in several instances without necrosed ilium had been removed by Mr. Erichsen a few any appearance of inflammatory action on the skin, presenting, weeks previously. The report on the 15th of January was, however, precisely the same character as when associated with that the wound had nearly healed, and was discharging this local affection. To this fact Mr. Erichsen particularly upon the constitutional origin of favourably. On the 17th the patient was seized with rigors, drew attention, as bearing that that disease, when trau nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea; on the 23rd, erysipelas made erysipelas, and tending to show its appearance on the back, and spread upwards. These matic, is not, properly speaking, a cutaneous affection, but a

symptoms continued, the vomiting being especially frequent and distressing, causing him to refuse all nutriment, and he died on the 28th in an exhausted state. On Jan.22nd,five operations were performed by Mr. Erichsen. Of these, four were seized with erysipelas; one only, a case of fistula in ano, escaping. The cases were as follow:CASE 3.-Removal of three outer metatarsal bones of right foot in a man of fifty-nine years. Operation on the 22nd; erysipelas of leg, with vomiting and diarrhoea, on the 23rd; diarrhoea and vomiting continuing after cessation of the erysipelas. Died on Feb. 2nd. CASE 4.-Amputation of little finger and head of metacarpal bone in a young man. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea on the 30th; erysipelas of head on the 31st; abscesses in the palm of the hand. Recovery. CASE 5.-Necrosis of tibia in a boy, aged ten years. Removal of sequestrum on the 22nd; erysipelas of the leg, with some gastro-intestinal symptoms, on the 25th; abscesses. Recovery. CASE 6.-Removal of very large ulcerated encysted tumours from the scalp of a woman, aged sixty-eight. Rigors and erysipelas on the 26th; death, with gastro.intestinal irritation,

Feb. 3rd. CASE 7.-Strangulated femoral hernia in a man of sixty-six years. Operation on Jan. 24th; went on perfectly well until the 31st, when vomiting and diarrhoea came on, with obscure abdominal hardness and tympanitis. These symptoms continued ; he fell into a typhoid state, and died on Feb. 5th. On examination, considerable vascular injection of the mucous membrane of the intestines was found at various parts, as well as extensive diffuse peritonitis, with fibrinous deposits, and a considerable quantity of pus. CASE 8.-Stricture of the urethra with perinseal fistula. Very severe attack of diarrhoea and vomiting, but no erysipelatous blush on the skin. Recovery. CASE 9.-Necrosis of femur in a boy. Erysipelatous redness around the fistulous apertures, with sickness. Recovery. CASE 10.-Infiitration of urine into the perineaum and scrotum. Severe attack of diarrhoea and vomiting, but no on

peculiar form of surgical fever, which is usually, but not neces·· sarily, complicated with inflammation of the injured integu-

ments ; and that we may have the same disease as a constitutional affection, assuming the same type, and associated with the same gastro-intestinal complications, but in no way manifesting itself by any external or cutaneous inflammation. In the case where enteritis and peritonitis occurred a week after the operation for hernia, the same constitutional disturbance, the same incessant vomiting, diarrhoea, and furred tongue, succeeded the extensive inflammation of the serous membrane. Mr. Erichsen, in speaking of the treatment of this affection, adverted especially to the importance of preventive measures for arresting the spread of bad forms of erysipelas, when once they have occurred in an hospital. The disease is decidedly infectious; hence Mr. Erichsen advises that those first infected should be placed in private wards apart from the rest of the patients; that the chlorides should be freely used, and that one dresser and nurse should, if poasible, be appointed to attend solely on the erysipelatous cases.* With regard to curative treatment in the cases described, it was found that the compound chalk powder and opium, the compound kino powder, and the pernitrate of iron, checked the diarrhoea most effectually; that stimulants were required early in the disease, and that brandy freely given, either alone or with arrow-root, or beef-tea, or in the shape of the brandyand-egg mixture of the Pharmacopoeia, was of more use than any of the mere medicinal stimuli. The cases which proved fatal appeared to sink under the exhaustion produced by the diarrhoea and incessant vomiting, which could not be checked by any of the agents usually of service in such cases. The patients who died were all old, except Case 2, who had been exhausted by previous suppuration and hectic. The younger and more healthy patients all did well; and as no case has occurred since the first week in February, it is probable that the epidemic has entirely passed away from the wards of the

hospital. SUMMARY OF HOSPITAL CASES.

ST. GEORGE’S HOSPITAL.-It is very distressing to rapid growth and enormous size of secondary encephaloid tumours, and the certainty with which this malignant disease gradually dries up the springs of life. There is now in Wright ward of this hospital a striking instance of such reproduction. Our readers will find full particulars of the case in former" Mirrors," (THE LANCET.Dec.8,1849, p. 615; Aug. 20, 1850, p. 245.) Mr. PRESCOTT HEWETT has just re-admitted the patient, in order to afford him as much comfort as the institution will allow. The stump has now assumed an enormous globular shape, the cicatrix being forced downwards; the tumour yields to the hand the usual sensation conveyed by encephaloid growths, the latter being of the size of the trunk of an adult. The abdomen is soft and painless, and there is no evidence of any other organ being affected with the same disof the case of tumour of the scalp) having been confined ex- ease. The patient is thin and weak, and is evidently worn out by his complaint. It is clear that no operative interference clusively to Brundrett ward, in which the disease originated. would now be of any avail. of interest Another point was, that all the recent wounds ROYAL FREE FIOSPITAL-WE noticed here a patient exposed to the morbific influence became affected, the only exception being a case of fistula in ano, which was placed in a under the care of Mr. GAY, who presents pathological features private ward. The suppurating wounds, of which there were somewhat similar to those of the case mentioned above. The several in the same ward, mostly escaped. poor fellow, who is a chimney-sweeper, is suffering from the The type of the disease was peculiar. In all the cases, recurrence in the groin of cancer scroti, which was removed without exception, including the original one, there were pro- about a twelvemonth ago by Mr. Wormald, at St. Bartholominent symptoms of gastro-intestinal irritation. The disease mew’s Hospital. The cancerous tumour was then between was ushered in, in all cases, by nausea and vomiting, and diarthree and four inches in diameter, in an ulcerated condition; rhoea either preceded or accompanied these symptoms. This the inguinal glands were, howeverfreefrom enlargement or indiarrhoea was profuse, consisting of very liquid, bilious stools, duration. The wound made by the operator’s knife healed in voided without, pain or griping. The tongue was uniformly * We were extremely glad to find Mr. Erichsen concur so fully with the coated with a thick yellowish or brownish fur; the edge and opinions which we a short time ago (THE LANCET, January 25 1851, p. 91) and red centre and but the over root on the same subject. tip clean, becoming dry expressed

erysipelas. Recovery. CASE 11.—Amputation of leg. Diarrhoea, and sloughing of stump. Recovery. CASE 12.-Excision of elbow-joint. Vomiting and gastric disturbance. Recovery. Mr.Erichsen observed that this series of cases presented many ’, points full of interest to the hospital surgeon. In the first place, ’, there can be no doubt that they all originated in the same infection from the case of gangrenous erysipelas admitted on January 15th. This would appear from the fact of no erysipelas having previously arisen within the hospital; the first patient affected being the one lying in the adjoining bed to that in which the original case was temporarily placed; and the erysipelas and concomitant diarrhoea (with the exception cutaneous

notice the

294

ex-

less than three weeks, and the patient left the hospital in cellent condition. Afortnight afterwards he felt some pain in the groin; it soon became dull and lancinating, a tumour formed, and grew very rapidly. The growth now occupies the whole of the left inguinal region, extending in front from the symphysis pubis to the anterior superior spinal process of the ilium, and posteriorly almost to the verge of the anus. The whole tumour feels hard and unyielding; the skin which covers it is highly inflamed and smooth, except in that portion which lies over the crural vessels, where it is hard, rugose, and scaling off, forming a nodulated prominence, about the size of the fist, and much resembling a hypertrophied and indurated scrotum. The right side is quite free and healthy; the old cicatrix is hardly visible, and the left testicle has been drawn up into the groin, and is now quite covered by the tumour.

The patient is of course weak and cachectic-looking ; he is troubled with bed-sores over the sacrum, and states that the tumour is full of wind, which he feels rushing through it. Is this feeling arising from a tumultuous circulation through the growth ? The thigh and leg, as may well be supposed, are highly cedematous. We were much impressed by this case, for it is held by some authors that chimneysweepers’ cancer is not likely to recur after excision. There are several cases on record where the disease has returned, but not, as far as we are aware, in so very short a time as happened in this instance. Here, again, our art is powerless.

this recovery. He desired the boy a few days ago to make a few jumps, in order to judge of the state of the base of the skull. The boy experienced some pain in the head at these exertions, and Mr. Stanley took occasion to state to the pupils, that he had had a patient some time ago who had apparently recovered after symptoms of injury to the base of the skull; he left the hospital in a satisfactory condition, but some time afterwards suddenly died of a cerebral attack.

ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S HOSPITAL.-Mr. STANLEY admitted a few days ago, (March 7,1851,) in Darker ward, a young man from the country, aged nineteen years, whO’ presents a double harelip, and cleft hard and soft palate. The deformity is extremely unsightly, as there is a piece of intermaxillary bone, connected with a fleshy nodule, and provided with two teetli, projecting in front, and attached solely to the base of the vomer. The alm nasi are of course drawn laterally, so that the flat portions of the vomer are quite exposed. The hard palate as well as the velum are cleft through their whole extent, except anteriorly, where, for the space of about half an inch, the alveolar arch is continuous. It will thus be seen that the projecting piece of bone, above described, is now quite supernumerary, as the arch behind it is complete, and supplied with teeth; the two middle incisors being attached to the abnormal process of bone, and the two lateral incisors to the portion of the arch situated exactly behind it. This ir..tlformation gives the face the appearance presented by some of the animals belonging to the class Rodent’ia. Articulation is extremely obscure, deglutition pretty easy. Mr. Stanley intends to remedy the deformities in proceeding from behind forwards.

ST. THOMAS’S HOSPITAL: ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL.-It is generally supposed that we are just as devoid of curative means in certain congenital defects as in the abovementioned diseases; and among the former the absence of the UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL. We had the anterior walls of the bladder holds a prominent rank. There of putting upon record, a little time ago, the success pleasure now in the London hospitals two patients presenting that are Budd had met with at King’s College Hospital, in using Dr. distressing deformity: one under the care of Mr. T.H. WAKLEY, male fern for the expulsion of tape-worm, (THE at the ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL; and the other under the care of the oil of Mr. Simon, at ST. TnoMAs’s HOSPITAL. The first is a youug LANCET, Dec. z0, p. 676.) We are glad to say that the was likewise very effective in the hands of Mr. ERICHSEN. man, about twenty-two years of age, who has never worn any drug We lately noticed a little girl, an out-patient under the care of irritation of the urine and to diminish the apparatus trickling the clothes, and it can hardly be imagined that he could Mr. Erichsen for a cutaneous affection of the leg, who took the attend to the rough work of an agriculturist in his sad condi- oil of male fern, as she had passed some fragments of tsenia.. tion. The second is a boy about fourteen years old, who has The remedy proved very effective, the child having voided several yards of the worm, after taking half a drachm of the worn for the last two years one of those receptacles first introduced by Mr. Earle, and ably described and illustrated oil in mucilage. We hope that such experiments will be continued, as it is a matter of no small importance fully to by Mr. M’Whinnie, in the Medical Gazette, (Feb. 1850.) The ascertain the virtues of a plant so easily procured. in this case is not quite so convenient as Mr. Earle’s, z, apparatus since the bag which receives the urine only reaches to the ’, knee, whereas the former contrivance includes a shell or cup ’, at the calf of the leg, provided with a stop-cock. We need hardly say, that in both cases the posterior walls Societies. of the bladder are protruding through the anterior aperture, forming a globular mass about the size of an orange, covered ROYAL MEDICAL AND CHIRURGICAL SOCIETY. by a highly red and sensitive mucous membrane; the openings of the ureters are thus exposed externally, and the urine is TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 1851.—MR. HODGSON, PRESIDENT. constantly trickling from them upon the malformed penis and surrounding parts, leaving calcareous incrustations upon them. THE on taking the chair, was much cheered, and. The superior portion of the penis is wanting, the urethra made aPRESIDENT, brief address, in which he thanked the fellows for the a and the as if a forming simple groove, organ looking exactly honour they had done him in electing him to the honourable horizontal section from before backwards had been made just He had long felt the deepest position which he then above, and laying open the canal of the urethra. The symphysis interest in the Society,occupied. of which he was one of the oldest the testicles are is in first the case, though widely fellows now living. He had joined it soon after its formation, pubis perfect separated; but the pubal bones do not meet in the second; and well recollected the time when its founders, Drs. Marcet the testicles are, however, close to each other, and pendulous. and Yelloly, used to be present, with Mr. Abernethy, Sir A. Mr. T. Wakley is inclined to attempt an autoplastic operaDr. Babington, and other illustrious men, now no more. Cooper, tion to diminish the inconvenience attending the deformity, It was his (Mr. Hodgson’s) lot, soon after, to be nominated on and Mr. Simon is likewise disposed to modify the imperfection the Council, and in conjunction with the late Mr. Samuel in his patient by surgical interference. We shall watch these the first catalogue of the library. CircumCooper, prepared cases with no common interest. stances had soon after removed him from London, but he had ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S HOSPITAL.-Mr. STANLEY has not, on that account, felt less interest in the Society. The had, in Darker ward, for some time past, (since Jan, 18,1851,) position in which he was now placed he regarded, not only as The patient is an honour to himself, but also to all gentlemen who practised a very curious case of concussion of the brain. in the provinces, for he might be said to be still a provincial a lad of eighteen, who was busy in the court-yard of a large city warehouse, when one of his fellow workmen unfortunately surgeon, though he had lately taken up his residence infell from a third floor, and alighted exactly upon the boy’s London. He believed that provincial surgeons generally head. It is rather strange, (though not unheard of,) that the would so regard his election as president of the Society, and The lad, how- would thus feel that professional men in the provinces were man did not meet with any injury whatever. ever, was rendered totally insensible, and remained in that not overlooked or disregarded by their brethren in London. state for twenty-four hours. When brought into the hospital He could not help feeling some regret at succeeding he was bleeding from the ears, had two scalp wounds, and pre- their late amiable, talented, and enlightened president, who sented several symptoms, not only of severe concussion, but of was an ornament to their Society; but he should endeavour to fracture of the base of the skull. By appropriate treatment, follow in his steps, and do all in his power to keep the Society what it was-the most useful, valuable, and distinguished consisting of cold applications to the head, venesection, &c., the patient gradually recovered, and is now in a very favour- medical society in the world. After thanking the Society for able state of health, with slight occasional pain over the brow. the councillors they had chosen to act with him, Mr. Hodgson Mr. Stanley has not, however, full trust and confidence in sat down amid general applause.

Medical