Africa : blackwater fever in the tropical African dependencies : reports for 1912.

Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Africa : blackwater fever in the tropical African dependencies : reports for 1912. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    11/92 (page 7)
    SIERRA LEONE. MOBE. CASE 4. A missionary, aged 27. Previous history.—He had spent seven months on the West Coast. of Africa, during which time he had repeatedly suffered from “small fever.” He stated that he had taken quinine regularly, but this was doubtful. July History of present illness——On July 7th he did not feel well. The urine was scanty, but clear. On July 8th it was noticed in the early morning that the urine was dark. There was severe pain in the back and arms and the patient had a very severe and prolonged rigor. He was placed on board a boat and taken to Bonthe—a journey of about 45 hours—and admitted to hospital. On examination the skin was of a citron yellow colour; the temperature 101°4°; the pulse, 88 beats to the minute, was of fair volume. The patient was very weak, restless and sweating profusely. There was no vomiting. Blood films showed no malaria parasites. At about 7 p.m. he passed seven ounces of a very dark and somewhat viscid urine. At 9.30 p.m. he again passed somewhat clearer urine, making up the total quantity of urine for the day to 20 ounces. He vomited bilious matter twice. The temperature. was 104°, the pulse rate 108. On July 9th the patient. was not so well. There was no vomiting, but he was very weak and the urine was not being secreted in sufficient quantity. At 7 a.m. the quantity passed in the previous twenty-four hours was 37 ounces. The temperature was 103°, the pulse-rate 120. The heart sounds were clear but weak. At 2.30 p.m. he was in a collapsed condition; the temperature was 99°; the pupils were dilated; the skin was cold; the respiration sighing; the bladder empty. He vomited twice. At 2.45 p.m. unconsciousness supervened. Death occurred at 3 p.m. The patient was treated with Sternberg’s mixture. Saline enemata were given;