On perforating ulcer of the stomach, from non-malignant disease. Pt. I / by Edwards Crisp.

  • Crisp, Edwards, 1806-1882.
Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On perforating ulcer of the stomach, from non-malignant disease. Pt. I / by Edwards Crisp. 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.

    14/24 (page 12)
    ing to tlie state of the liver and bowels, some of the various pre- parations of iron may he administered; probably the sulphate and carbonate will be found most serviceable; Griffith’s mixture is also likely to benefit. Sir A Cooper, in speaking of the menstrual ulcer, which appears to me to bear some resemblance to the foregoing, says, “ These ulcers are of very common occurrencehe recommends the compound iron mixture, with Plummer’s pill, and believes that these medicines will generally succeed in restoring the secretions. In addition to the above, the following may be tried:—Counter-irritation over the region of the stomach with tartarised antimony or croton oil; sponging the skin with tepid or cold water, and afterwards rubbing with a rough towel; horse exercise, when it can be procured; warm clothing; change of air; and mental quietude. The diet should be plain and simple, composed, in the first instance, of light farinaceous food, and afterwards of substances of a more nutritious quality'. Should the above mode of treatment not succeed in restoring the menstrual secretion, mustard poultices may be placed on the mamms, or electric shocks applied to the loins, as recommended by Dr. G. Bird, in the “ Guy’s Hospital Reports.” When the disease appears to be unconnected with uterine irregularity, light bitters may be substituted for the preparations of iron; prussic acid and morphia wfill be found serviceable when much pain is present. After the perforation has taken place, I apprehend the case must be considered hopeless. Occasionally the aperture is filled up by ad- hesion of the stomach to some of the surrounding viscera, and in these instances the contents of the stomach do not escape into the peri- toneum. Dr. Stokes, of Dublin, in cases of perforation of the intestine, has given opium in large doses; and, in many examples, life has been prolonged by this mode of treatment. In Dr. Elliotson’s case, large doses of opium were given, and the patient lived seventy hours. Bleed- ing, followed by large doses of opium, I believe most likely to prolong life; but no mode of treatment, I fear, can be of ultimate benefit. I have endeavoured, in this imperfect sketch, to condense my observations as much as possible, feeling that I have occupied a greater space than is usually allotted to communications of this description. If I succeed in directing the attention of the profession to a subject which yet requires much investigation, my object will be fully answered. As I have before stated, the above essay was published in 1843 ; it will now be my object to extend the enquiry up to the present time, by adding the examples of non-malignant perforation of the stomach, since recorded in the British Journals. I will, however, first, relate the following cases, which have been kindly furnished by my friends : with two exceptions they occurred in the same neighbourhood as the five first related. Cases 6, 7, and 8, by Mr. Hicks, of Newington-butts.—Ann G., set. 28, of a sallow complexion, with dark hair and eyes, has always enjoyed good health until these last twelve months, during which period she has suffered greatly from dyspepsia, the symptoms being referred to the chest ; the pain at times was of so severe a character as to draw her nearly double. She, however, had never complained