Observations on general paralysis of the insane and on the morbid changes found on post-mortem examination of the spinal cord / by Robt. Boyd.

  • Boyd, Robert, 1808-1883.
Date:
1871
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on general paralysis of the insane and on the morbid changes found on post-mortem examination of the spinal cord / by Robt. Boyd. 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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    Chest: The right lung in a healthy state in 10, the left in 8 ; there were pleuritic adhesions in 4, emphysema and bron- chitis in 5, congestion of blood in lungs in 5, pneumonia in 3, pulmonary tubercles in 1, the average weight of the heart was 8-6 ounces. Abdomen : There were peritoneal adhesions in 2, more or less redness and inflammation of mucous membrane of intes- tines in 3; the average weight of the stomach was 5-4 oz., of the liver 42‘7, of the spleen 4, of the pancreas 3, of the right kidney 4'2, of the left kidney 4*3, of the renal capsules ; the average weight of the body was 91’5 lbs., and the length 5 feet 3 inches. The cause of death is frequently obscure, and without a post-mortem examination cannot be certified with accuracy; if it be done carefully, as a matter of course, no objection is ever made. In every public asylum, hospital, and infir- mary, as in naval and military hospitals, a post-mortem ex- amination should be imperative, as it is the only way in which the diagnosis of the disease can be established or corrected, and it is by such means our knowledge of disease is to be extended. The public, equally with the medical profession, are interested. All workhouse infirmaries, for instance, should be conducted in such a way as to be made useful as places of medical education for the study of disease and mor- bid appearances. This would no doubt be the case if work- house infirmaries were not under the sole control of elected Boards of Guardians, who have power to close them against pupils. The medical profession has thus been forced to provide for the instruction of their pupils other and less ade- quate means than those which workhouse infirmaries so abund- antly afford, by the establishment of hospitals, which only partially provide for the wants of the poor, for the most part being confined to a few medical and surgical wards for adults. Children are not received, nor aged or insane persons, so that the pupils have not the advantage of witnessing the treatment of such cases, which form so large and important a share of their attention when in practice. This want, workhouse infirmaries would amply supply. The mortality from disease in hospitals and infirmaries is found to be much higher than where people are attended at their own homes. Instead of building hospitals the proper and most beneficial succour to the working classes would be to improve their dwellings.