A letter to George Renny ... on the feigned diseases of soldiers / by John Cheyne.

Date:
1826
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A letter to George Renny ... on the feigned diseases of soldiers / by John Cheyne. 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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    in the execution of their fraudulent attempt who who pretended that they were affected with spit- ting of blood. The absence of those symptoms which generally attend heemoptoe, such as im- perfect formation of the chest, cough, dyspnoea, disturbed circulation and hectic flushing, will naturally excite suspicion, which will be con- firmed by the appearance of the blood which is presented in the spitting cup, and by minute exa- mination of the mouth and such parts of the body as are within reach of suction. Blood from the lungs is generally florid, frothy, coagulated, and in separate masses; whereas in the attempts which are made to imitate hsemoptoe, it will be found to resemble, what in fact it is, blood mixed with, or dissolved in saliva, being of a thin ropy consistence, and dilute colour. This ap- pearance ought to lead to an examination of the naked body, of the nostrils, fauces, inside of the cheeks, but most especially the gums, in a good cleai* light. If we discover blood adhering to the nostrils or fauces, or if, in examining the gums carefully, we are able, at any point, to express blood from between the gums and tooth, we may, without hesitation, send the pretended patient to his duty. The soldier not content with representing one feature of consumption, will often undertake a perfect portrait of that disease, and this he will sometimes execute with great cleverness. The thought would seem to strike him while in hos-