On the treatment of aneurism by iodide of potassium / by George W. Balfour.

Date:
1868
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the treatment of aneurism by iodide of potassium / by George W. Balfour. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    On the 1st of August, the patient was transferred to Ward VII., and placed under my care. He was at once placed upon thirty grain doses of the iodide of potassium three times a day, and these doses he has continued to take without intermission up to the pre- sent time (May 1868), with continually increasing benefit, and with- out the production at any time of the slightest unpleasant symptom. For several months, he also continued to wear a simple belladonna plaster over the tumour, but at last it blistered him, and produced so much eczematous eruption each time it was attempted to re-apply it, that it had to be discontinued. On coming under my charge, he was strictly confined to bed, and for long he lay entirely on his back, that being the only position in which he found always com- parative and, latterly, perfect ease. He was only allowed to get up and move about for the first time about three weeks before his dismission on the 2d of April. He was placed upon fish diet at first, —meat being subsequently given when he tired of the fish, but he was at all times carefully warned of the necessity for strict modera- tion both in eating and drinking; water, small quantities of tea, and milk for supper, being the fluids supplied. With all this care, and notwithstanding the large doses of the iodide administered, his pro- gress at first was extremely slow, but it was steady; and in a clinical lecture given on his case on the 19th of November last, I find it stated “ there is no longer any tumour visible, and it is only on careful examination that you will discover any pulsation; he is so far recovered, that lie is a little inclined to be rash, and to move about quickly in bed, or even to turn upon his side; but upon this the pulsation instantly returns—a sufficient warning to him that he is not yet cured.” Indeed, it was not till the beginning of March, in this year, that he was able to move about freely, without discom- fort or any return of the pain or pulsation. On tire 1st of April, I had the honour of exhibiting this patient before this Society, just previous to his discharge from hospital, when you had the oppor- tunity of observing the complete subsidence of the tumour described, pulsation being only to be obscurely felt in the situation where it formerly existed; you also heard the man’s statement that his pain, dyspnoea, and dysphagia, were gone; and you were able, from his healthy and energetic appearance, to form some idea of the importance and value of this mode of treatment. I may add that I have repeatedly seen this patient since his discharge, and that he still continues to improve, while, from the active manner in winch he marches through the streets, no one would suppose that but a year ago he was what might well be thought a hopeless invalid, afflicted with one of the most terrible and incurable of maladies. With all this improvement, however, Rice is not cured ; it is doubtful, indeed, whether, under his circumstances, a poor man necessitated to do something for his daily bread, he ever can be cured. But he has obtained great and incalculable relief, and his case is an encouragement to us in the treatment of similar affections,