A letter to Sir Benjamin C. Brodie ... containing a critical inquiry into his "Lectures illustrative of certain local nervous affections" / by William Goodlad.

Date:
1840
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A letter to Sir Benjamin C. Brodie ... containing a critical inquiry into his "Lectures illustrative of certain local nervous affections" / by William Goodlad. 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.

    78/166 (page 66)
    scanty alvine secretions and the slightly furred tongue, by which to be guided. Another day passed not only without benefit, but with an aggravation of every symptom. The pulse had become permanently quick and weak, and it was evident that if these dreadful exertions continued much longer, some viscus or some ves- sels must give way, and effusion be the conse- quence. The bowels had been opened frequently, but not freely; the opiate had procured no rest; the urine was high coloured and scanty, partly arising, perhaps, from the perspiration, which both before and after the bath was excessive. • Whilst in the bath she had no paroxysms, but they recur- red immediately on her rising out of it with una- bated violence. I was deterred from using the lancet, partly from the ill success which had resulted from my first trial of it, and now also from the reduced powers. I did not venture to repeat the warm bath, fearing the effects of any measure which would quicken the circulation; and though the alvine secretions were scanty, they were not unhealthy: yet it seemed that every other function was regularly performed, and I determined, therefore, to persevere in the use of gentle aperient medicines, combined with calo- mel and opium, in repeated doses. Recollecting, however, that I had made no examination of the kidneys, I wished to ascertain whether any trace of disease, or of the presence of calculus, could be discovered there, thinking it possible the convulsive actions might arise from