Observations on certain dropsical affections which are successfully treated by blood-letting / by J. Abercrombie.

Date:
[1818]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on certain dropsical affections which are successfully treated by blood-letting / by J. Abercrombie. 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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    resist this mode of treatment, become rapidly worse, with dif- ficult breathing, and in a short lime are fatal. Without at- tempting at present any general conclusions in regard to the nature of this affection, I submit the following cases: Case I.—J. Nelson, a child aged two years and a half, about eight or ten days after he had recovered from a mild attack of scarlatina, was observed to be anasarcous in the face ; theswelling increased, and extended over other parts of his body } and, at a very early period of the complaint, his breathing was observed to be oppressed. The pulse was frequent and rather small; the urine very scanty. The swelling increased ; the breathing became more and more difficult i all the usual reme- dies w'ere employed without benefit; and the child died about the 10th day from the first appearance of the anasarca. On dissection considerable effusion was found in both cavities of the thorax, and a little in the abdomen. The lungs were dark- coloured and remarkably indurated, so as to resemble the structure of liver. This was most remarkable in the right lobe, pieces cut from which readily sunk in water. Case II.—A boy aged 5 years, who had recently recovered from a smart attack of scarlatina, was first observed to be ana- sarcous in the face about the 10th of June 1817. The swell- ing increased rapidly, and extended downwards on the body. The usual diuretics were given ; his bowels were spontaneously so loose, as to leave no room for purging ; urine very scanty and not coagulable. From a very early period of this affection, his breathing was observed to be oppressed; this was most remark- able during the night, which was passed with much moaning and restlessness. The swelling increased, and the uneasiness in breathing increased along with it, the latter becoming qu'c , short, and oppressed. There was no cough, and he complained of no pain. On the 15th, every symptom continued to increase ; his breathing was Irora 44 to 46 in the minute, short and oppressed. Theswelling had increased so much in Ins face, that his eyes were nearly shut; it was so great on his body ^ clothes would not button ; it was very considerable on the thighs and legs, but the feet and ankles vvei^ free from t, though he was sitting up. The pulse was 90 and of good strength, urine very scanty, the diuretics having produced no cfi^ect. I now'^bled him from the arm to ^^iv. and continued diuretics, the dose of them being a little increased. 16.—His breathing was much relieved immediately afte