Fibrin : its origin and development in the animal organism, and its relation to life, health, longevity, and disease / by John Goodman.

Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Fibrin : its origin and development in the animal organism, and its relation to life, health, longevity, and disease / by John Goodman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    Another instance has occurred which is worthy of note. The hady of J. W , M.D., was suffering from cancerous tumour of the breast, and had taken quantities of morphia, opium, etc., to remove pain and to procure sleep. To a great extent these nar- cotics had been used without effecting this desirable object. Staying in Southport only one night, on her way to the Metro- polis, where it was intended that the sub-cuticular injection of bromide in some form should be employed, we induced her to try the hot fomentation at bed-time for this one night only. She had the best night of sleep and freedom from pain experienced for many months. Yet, after all, this lady could not be induced to stay longer, so intent was she upon the application of the new remedy. We received information afterwards that the only effect of the bromide was great exasperation of the symptoms, and that its employment required the administration of largely increased quantities of opium to still the pain. This was the result of a two months' trial, when death put an end to her suf- ferings. A very remarkable result of these simple appliances is also discovered in the fact, that, after the removal of cancer of the breast by operation, the use of a course of wet packings, tepid morning ablutions, and sitz baths, so far as we have witnessed, actually prevents a return of this formidable disease. Miss , of E., had one breast removed which was just on the point of breaking out into open cancer. The case had been seen and examined also by my friend the late T. Turner, Esq., of Man- chester, and the same conclusion for an immediate operation ar- rived at. Three weeks after our first interview, the operation was successfully performed, and the wound nicely and kindly healed. Another case. Miss B , of Ireland, had a cancerous breast excised, and some six knotty indurations also removed from the axilla. This case did well, perfect adhesion having taken place in every part. These have been the only two cases which, in cancer removed by myself, a course of treatment by these external and simple appliances and measures have been adopted for two months after the operation. Five or six years have now elapsed since the former case, and three or four years since the latter was under treatment, yet the disease has not again in either instance returned. On the other hand, whilst in medical practice in the city of Manchester, several similar cases were operated upon, but in each instance the patient succumbed to a recurrence of the disease. One extraordinary fact which transpired in this latter case was, that. Miss B. having required a very large amount of chloro- form to produce the requisite degree of insensibility to pain during the operation, and not being willing to administer any