The history, pathology, and treatment of puerperal fever and crural phlebitis.

Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history, pathology, and treatment of puerperal fever and crural phlebitis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Lamar Soutter Library, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Lamar Soutter Library at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

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    posed of an ounce and a half of the sulphate of magnesia and six ounces of the infusion of roses, two table-spoonfuls of which were ordered to be taken every hour, after the exhibition of the calomel, till the bowels should be frequently and plentifully opened. June 6th, 6 o'clock in the morning. — The blood drawn last evening was covered with a buffy coat. The whole of the medicine had been taken, which produced seven large, dark, loose stools. The patient was very considerably better; her belly felt soft, and she could bear pressure with very little inconvenience. The skin was warm and moist, and the pulse reduced to 100 in the minute. An anodyne enema, containing 120 drops of the tincture of opium, was directed to be injected immediately, and the common neutral mixture to be taken in the course of the day, with weak chicken broth as a diet. Several hours of sleep were procured by the anodyne enema, and from that time the patient might be considered convalescent, but her bowels required to be kept open by castor oil, for five or six days longer. This case being extremely violent, and the patient of a plethoric habit, a repetition of bloodletting appeared admissible, and it cer- tainly had an excellent effect. THE CASE OP MRS. B , AGED 30, TREATED BY PURGING. June 6th, 1813. Late on the 4th of June, Mrs. B ■ was safely delivered of her third child, and continued tolerably well till the 6th, when she was attacked by a shivering fit, followed by increase of heat, op- pression at the praecordia, restlessness, thirst, quick breathing, suppression of the milk and lochia, great pain, tension, and extreme tenderness of the belly, with a small, hard pulse, exceeding 120 in the minute. Her urine was scanty, and passed without much in- convenience. Half a drachm of calomel was prescribed in mucilage, and half an ounce of castor oil directed to be taken every hour, in a little warm coffee, till the patient should be plentifully purged. An antiphlogistic regimen was ordered. Four doses of the castor oil were taken after the calomel. In the course of the day twelve copious, dark, fetid stools were procured, and an evident diminution of the disease took place. 7th, 6 o'clock in the morning. — The patient had two more evacuations from the medicines, but, notwithstanding, passed a restless night. The pulse was 120 in the minute, the surface very hot, the tongue dry, and the abdomen tense and painful on pres- sure. A scruple of calomel was prescribed, and the castor oil ordered every hour as before. Eight copious stools were produced in six hours ; the pain and 18