A statement of the symptoms for which bleeding was thought necessary and adopted, in the case of the late Mr. Leycester [addressed to Rev. E. Stanley] : in reply to an opinion, put forth by Mr. Holland, that such a step was injudicious / [John Harrison].

  • Harrison, John, 1808 or 1809-1880.
Date:
1835
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A statement of the symptoms for which bleeding was thought necessary and adopted, in the case of the late Mr. Leycester [addressed to Rev. E. Stanley] : in reply to an opinion, put forth by Mr. Holland, that such a step was injudicious / [John Harrison]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    after the first bleeding there was no change whatever in the pulse, the countenance was totally unaffected by it, and Mr. Leycester got up and walked about the room as firmly as ever. To the second bleeding there succeeded a total and complete remission of pain and uneasiness of any kind; and from that moment to his dying hour Mr. Leycester never complained of the slightest return. On the following morning the pulse had sunk to ninety, possessing at the same time very considerable strength, and even after the second depletion there was not the slightest complaint or appearance either of syncope or any state at all approaching to it. I then gave him five grains oi calomel, which was followed up in the course of a few hours by a black draught and other active aperients which never operated until that day week. The appearance of the blood was decidedly buffy. As a further proof how slight an effect the bleed¬ ing had had upon Mr. Leycester, I would just mention that on the Friday, when Dr. Robinson first saw him, he had so great an apprehension of an affection of the head, that he directed, in the event of the symptoms which were then present continuing or increasing, that leeches should be applied to the temples; for which purpose, the person who usually applies them was in attendance the whole of the night; but eventually, a blister was used in lieu of them. Such being a faithful and correct account of the symptoms which induced me to bleed Mr. Leycester, I would ask any person, capable of judging, what other measures I could or ought to have resorted to.