An experimental and clinical inquiry into the etiology and distinctive peculiarities of traumatic fever / by B.A. Watson.

  • Watson, B. A. (Beriah André), 1836-1892.
Date:
1881
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An experimental and clinical inquiry into the etiology and distinctive peculiarities of traumatic fever / by B.A. Watson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    9/26 (page 5)
    tended to convey the etiological idea of the disease, but granting to them correctness in this particular, then it must be admitted that the use of the term traumatic instead of septic is certainly to he regarded as unfortunate, especially since many severe trau- matisms are not attended with fever. Another objection to these definitions is found in the fact that recent observations and investigations in connection with the practice ot antiseptic surgery render it exceedingly probable that there is frequently developed in connection with a wound a fever which differs in nearly all the essential characteristics from that arising from septic absorption. The attention of surgeons was first called to this subject by Genzmer and Yolkmann, in an article entitled1 “Ueber Septisches und Aseptisciies Wundeteber.” The authors of this paper have carefully pointed out the clinical peculiarities of each morbid condition. They remark that the most import- ant manifestation of the septic traumatic fever is produced on the nerve centres by the toxic action of the absorbed material. We must admit that there result from it exclusively, or at least principally, the general feeling of illness, the diminished sensi- bility which we see increasing in severe cases of septicaemia to the point of sopor, the somnolence or apathy in other cases, the unfitness for mental efforts, the hallucinations, the formal sort of intoxication which occasionally causes the prostration of strength which may increase in severe cases of this fever until extreme weakness has been produced, and more or less directly derangement of the secretory functions, and also of the digestive apparatus on which depends the slight inclination for food as a most important clinical symptom. They now add, that all these symptoms are wanting when a patient is suffering from the purely non-septic form of the disease$ which in the former instance convince him that he is sick. The increased temperature is almost the only, certainly the only important, clinical symptom. Patients with a temperature of 102° to 104-°, and even higher, go about, amuse themselves, are talkative and merry, smoke and play cards. Children with a similar temperature are found playing, while women and girls sit up in bed, and engage in sewing and knit- ting. A patient with both arms amputated, who was treated by Lister’s method, and whose wounds healed by first intention, walked all over the house on the day after the operation, and continued to do the same subsequently, with an axillary teinpe- ^ 1 Sammlung Klinlscher Vortrage, Na. 121.