The later history of spirillum fever at Bombay, 1882-83 : memoir based upon cases read before the Medical and Physical Society / by H.V. Carter.

  • Carter, H. V. (Henry Vandyke), 1831-1897.
Date:
[1884]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The later history of spirillum fever at Bombay, 1882-83 : memoir based upon cases read before the Medical and Physical Society / by H.V. Carter. 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.

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    ought not in these days to interfere with a due recognition of the clinical value of the microscope. In point of fact, this subject is one much too practical to be ignored with safety; and clinically, few topics are more interesting than the connec- tion apparent between symptoms and visible blood-changes. Were the procedures I have recommended more generally adopted, it is probable that this additional series of cases would be a longer one. No. 1.—During March 1884, a low-caste adult male was admitted into my clinical ward on the 6th day of fever—a first attack ; evening temperature 106°, pulse 120, respiration 32, but no distress evident (he sits up and denies any sense of discomfort even): the spleen, however, was enlai'ged and tender. Diagnosis somewliat uncertain, the symp- toms being possibly due to malarial infection. Next morning, the pyrexia had disappeared by crisis with profuse sweats (temp. 96^, p. 70, resp. 18); the splenic turgescence promptly subsided, and except some depression of the system and emaciation, there soon remained but few signs of illness. No relapse took place during the fifteen days longer the patient was detained in hospital. A minute drop of blood taken from a finger on the first evening, showed under i in. lens some occasional twitchings of the red discs; and after drying and staining with methyl-violet, the same material displayed numerous large spirilla. Further enquiry at the hoiise this patient came from, elicited the fact of other fever cases there, and one -with a history of recim-ent attacks ; but more could not be learnt: there were no signs of imusual poverty or destitution. Nos. 2 and 3, two youths from a large establishment, the residence of many others living under common conditions, were the only ones known to be attacked. ]Sfo. 2.—On 2nd April last it was intimated to me that J. A., vp.t. 21, one of the student-apprentices attached to the J. J. Hospital, had strong fever, and could not attend to duty. The illness was of four days' duration, and had not been checked by either quinine or kairin. Noting an aspect of distress in the patient, I was induced to examiiu- his blood on the spot; and finding the spirillum present, had the sufferer remove to separate quai-ters. Fever persisted as was foretold, and during the eighth night of illness the tcmperatm-e rose to 106-6°, deli- rium attending ; a critical defervescence next morning ensuing, witli de- cline to 07. Convalescence then began, but on the ninth-day later was in-