Observations on aneurism of the abdominal aorta / by Alexander Monro.

  • Monro, Alexander, 1773-1859.
Date:
1827
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on aneurism of the abdominal aorta / by Alexander Monro. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    stroyed, so as to afford a large and free passage or opening, es¬ timated at an inch and a half in length, from the artery into the cavity.’’ Other aneurisms of the abdominal aorta project backwards at the side of the spine, and sometimes attain a most enormous size. I have had occasion to see an instance, in which the aneu- rismal tumour in the back was at least eighteen inches in cir¬ cumference, and so very heavy, that the patient could not turn himself in bed without aid ; and, in the following instance, the tumour had attained a still larger size. On the 28th September 1823, I was called to see A B, a stout man, 36 years of age, who had a tumour of a globular form, and three feet in circumference, on the right side, which extend¬ ed from the ribs to the anterior spine of the os ilium. This tu¬ mour had a distinct pulsation, which was synchronous with that of the heart. It was so heavy that he could not turn himself in bed without aid, and was obliged to lie always on his side. The surface of the tumour was sphacelated, and a good deal of serum issued from it at different times for several days. The centre of the tumour communicated a distinct pulsation, but it was hard to the touch in its circumference. The patient suffered acute pain in the back and loins, which extended down to the right thigh, scrotum and inferior extre¬ mities, which latter were cedematous. He was occasionally sick, but his appetite upon the whole was tolerably good. I was informed that, three years ago, in putting some straw upon a cart, he had strained, or racked, as he called it, his back, which created very acute pain at the moment, which lasted for three or four days. He was at length somewhat relieved by bleeding, but the pain never left him, and he was supposed to labour un¬ der a disease of his stomach or liver, his appetite and digestion being, after a time, very much impaired. His pulse was not affected. Last April, a tumour, about the size of a hen’s egg, appeared on the right side below the ribs, and which had a distinct pul¬ sation. This tumour increased rapidly in size, and created much uneasiness, so that he was obliged to take very large