Heart diseases in Australia : with observations on aneurism of the aorta / by C.E. Reeves.

  • Reeves, Charles Evans.
Date:
1873
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Heart diseases in Australia : with observations on aneurism of the aorta / by C.E. Reeves. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    is experienced from the application of ice. When the patient is pale and emaciated, iron may be substituted for the iodide of potash with benefit. The veratrum viride, from its effect in controlling the action of the heart, is of great service in those cases in which the patients are strong' and robust, the pulse full and cpaick, and the pain in the aneurism severe. It is better, I think, adapted for use in hospitals, where its effect on the circulation can be watched, than in private practice. I have given it occasionally with great benefit, but as a rule—and particularly when the circu- lation is feeble—its too free exhibition, or continuing it too long, is apt to induce fatal syncope. I was first induced, in 1854, to use the iodide of potash, with digitalis, arsenic, and nitrate of potash, in a case of fibrinous deposit on the aortic valves. While under treatment, a very painful and rather hard pulsating tumour, of the size of a very small orange, was discovered in the superior mesenteric artery.* The fibrinous deposit was removed from the aortic valves, and, at the same time, the tumour in the abdomen became softer, and ceased to be painful. The medicines excited considerable nausea at the end of ten days. The dose was then diminished one-half. He was under treatment for three months. During the whole of this time he was confined to the bed or sofa. The tumour had not increased when seen some months later. The value of these medicines was very manifest in three cases in which the symptoms of aneurism in the first part of the aorta were well marked. They all did well. This seemed to be due to the aneurismal tumours being small, and of recent formation. * This case is more fully reported in the third volume of the Medical Becord, page 65,