Statistical and pathological report of the cases of fever treated in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in the year ending September 30, 1842 / by Thomas B. Peacock.

  • Peacock, Thomas B. (Thomas Bevill), 1812-1882.
Date:
[1843]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Statistical and pathological report of the cases of fever treated in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in the year ending September 30, 1842 / by Thomas B. Peacock. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    In its cavities there were found clots more or less perfectly coa- gulated and decolorised in seven cases; coagula not decolorised in eight; and Huid or grunious blood, without any coagula, in six. The condition of the blood in fever has not till recently attracted the attention which it demands; were it, indeed, care- fully subjected to chemical analysis, there can be little doubt that it would present appreciable alterations in nearly all if not all cases of the disease; since its physical qualities present marked peculiarities in almost all examinations after death, at however early a period the fiital event may have occurred. On the other band, I find, on referring to my notes, that of twenty-one cases of other diseases, taken indiscriminately, the blood in the heart was found fluid or feebly coagulated in only two; one being a case of purpura hajmorrhagia; the other of ulceration of the car- tilages of the knee-joint with abscess, giving rise to typhoid symptoms. In four others there existed coagula, not decolorised, and in the remaining fifteen the blood was firmly coagulated and the clots decolorised.^ Morbid Appearances in the Abdomen.—The Alimentary Canal. —The alimentarv canal was examined in 29 cases; of these the condition of the stomach is expressly reported in 19. It is stated to have been free fi'om any unusual appearance in . 5 cases. The mucous membrane more or less injected, but retaining its natuml firmness in . . . . . . . 10 „ „ „ but the consistence of the membrane not stated in 1 „ Softened and thin at the greater curvature in . . . 2 „ Softened at the pylorus in . . . . . . 1 „ The duodenum was reported to have dis])layed no appearance of disease in 17 „ And the follicles of Brunner to have been unusually distinct in . . 2 „ The ilium coecum and colon were examined and reported in 29 cases. They presented no appearance of disease in . . . 16 „ Displayed some reddening of the mucous membrane without impaired firmness in ....... 8 „ Old ulcers were found in the ilium and colon in . . . 2 „ Recent ulceration m ...... o jj The elliptic plates were specially examined in 28 cases, and were regarded as dis- eased in only 3. In 4 cases, entozoa were found in the lai'ge or small intestines. From the above enumeration, it will be observed, that the nuicous membrane of the stomach displayed more or less redness in different portions in 11 cases ; in one only, however, was this redness extensive or intense, and in 3 it consisted rather of slight ecchymosis beneath the membrane. Redness of the mucous mem- branes cannot, however, alone be regarded as proof of inflamma- ' The latter cases included 6 of phthisis; 2 of small pox; 2 of injury of the head; 2 of pleurisy and pneumonia; and 1 each of bronchitis, scarlatina, aneurism of tlie the aort.i, gangrene of the leg, meningitis, glanders, and lumbar abscess.