The treatment of epilepsy.

  • Alexander, William.
Date:
1889
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The treatment of epilepsy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    Case XX. Mary Gill, aged fifteen years, was admitted to Surgical Wards. October 15th, 1884. She had been four years at the Dingle, where she, during all that time, had fits very frequently, and never could give any account of herself. Her parents were dead, and she had only two sisters, who were younger than herself. About two months ago, patient got very outrageous, and could not be managed, and was consequently sent to the work- house to be operated on for epilepsy, or sent to a county asylum. She was evidently a tough case, but as the operation was proved to be harmless, it was performed on October 15th, 1884. The left internal jugular vein was scratched, and had to be tied above and below. At 8 p.m., patient had a severe fit, which lasted about five minutes. The whole body was very much con- vulsed, the face drawn and pale at first, then became flushed. Evening temperature, 99°. 16th. Patient was restless all night, and had a fit at 4.30 A.M. She pulled off all the dressings afterwards; they were reapplied by the nurse. The wounds were dressed, and were looking well. Morning temperature, 98.4°; evening temperature, 100.8°. 17th. Patient was very restless during the first part of the night, and tore the dressings off. She was quiet afterwards, and slept. The wounds were dressed again to-day. Morning tem- perature, 98.4°; evening temperature, 100.4°. 18th. Patient was going on well; had three slight fits. Morning temperature, 100°; evening, 100.4°. 19th. She had four fits, and several starts. Wounds were looking well. To be dressed with simple dressings. 21st. She had five fits to-day; wounds healing. Morning temperature, 99.2°; evening temperature, 100.2°. 22nd. She had one fit. Morning temperature, 99.2°; evening temperature, 100.4°. 23rd. She had three fits; the right wound was healed. Morn- ing temperature, 99.4°; evening temperature, 99.8°. 24th. She had four fits. Morning temperature, 99.4°; evening temperature 99.2°.