Surgical observations on tumours, and on lumbar abscesses / [John Abernethy].

  • Abernethy, John, 1764-1831.
Date:
1816
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Surgical observations on tumours, and on lumbar abscesses / [John Abernethy]. 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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    Very small electric shocks* were accordingly sent from different parts by the side of the lumbar vertebrae, down to the groin, and upper part of the affected thigh; and, under this treatment, the contents of the abscess soon disappeared ; nor did any further col- lection of matter take place during the time of her remaining in the house, which was nearly two months. The electricity also brought on the menstrual discharge, which for a long time had been very irregular; and her general health was greatly improved be- fore she left the hospital.-f * These small shocks, which, for the sake of distinc- tion, I shall call electric vibrations (a term, I believe, generally applied to them), were made by discharging a small jar, the coated surface of which did not exceed fourteen square inches : and by placing the ball of the electrometer at a small distance from the conductor, ge- nerally about a quarter of an inch. One of the discharging rods was then moved about on the upper part of the thigh, and the other on the loins, so that the electric fluid might pass through the abscess. f I have lately heard, that the abscess has not appeared again, though a year has since elapsed ; but the pain in her loins has, (as might have been expected) recurred. CASE