Analysis of fifty cases of hepatic abscess treated in the Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich, and the branch hospital, in the course of the last twenty-five years (1870-1895) / by W. Johnson Smith.

  • Smith, W. Johnson.
Date:
1895
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Analysis of fifty cases of hepatic abscess treated in the Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich, and the branch hospital, in the course of the last twenty-five years (1870-1895) / by W. Johnson Smith. 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.

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    “ on and off,” for twelve months. Presented symptoms of an hepatic abscess opening into right lung, which subsequently pointed about an inch and a half below and to right side of nipple; well marked shoulder-tip pain. The abscess healed by free incision through the chest wall. Patient discharged cured. Case 6. (Dr. Stephen Ward).—English ; Second Mate, aged 32 ; admitted May loth, 1872. (Reported by Mr. A. Young). History of recent dysentery ; last passage from Batavia ; enlargement of liver, pain in right hypochondrium and shoulder ; from May 22nd to 29th, abundant expectora- tion of frothy and rust-coloured muco-purulent fluid. Discharged cured. Case 7. (Dr. Stephen Ward).—Dane; A.B., aged 34; admitted August 9th, 1872. Had suffered from dysentery, caught in the Mediterranean. Severe stabbing pain over the liver, and shoulder-tip pain on the right side. Prolonged and abundant expectoration of thick “ brick-dust” fluid, with fever and evacuation. Discharged cured on December 30th, 1872. Case 8. (Under the care of Dr. Charles Ralfe).—German ; A.B., aged 25 ; admitted March 15th, 1873. History of dysentery contracted on West Coast of South America, five months before admission : expectoration of “ brick-dust ” sputum. Death from exhaustion, July 8th, 1873. Autopsy : A large cavity in right lung, containing 12 ounces of pus. This communicated through the diaphragm with a large cavity in the right lobe of the liver. The liver much enlarged, and together with the contracted spleen, in a condition of amyloid degeneration. Numerous small cavities scattered throughout both lobes of liver. An oval dysenteric ulcer in coscum. Mucous membrane of colon deeply pigmented. Case 9.—-English ; A.B., aged 28 ; admitted October 7th, 1873. About two months before admission had contracted dysentery at Calcutta. Death from acute peritonitis, on October 19th. Autopsy ; One large abscess in right lobe, a second and smaller abscess in left lobe, which had burst into peritonial cavity. Case 10. (Dr. Reginald Thomson).—English; Ship’s Steward, aged 26 ; admitted October 19th, 1873. Had been treated on three previous occasions for dysentery and hepatitis. Death on November 24th, 1873. Atitvpsy: Liver much enlarged and adherent to diaphragm ; a large abscess in right lobe, which had burst into lung; both lungs studded by numerous small abscesses ; dense and extensive cicatrization of colon near coecum, causing stricture of intestine. Case 11. (Under the care of Dr. Charles Ralfe).—Hindoo ; aged 28; admitted January i8th, 1874. At time of admission, suffering from dysentery of two weeks’ duration. Pain in right shoulder. A large and painful swelling in right hypochondrium, which was punctured twice, and afterwards freely incised and drained. Death from exhaustion about three months after last operation. Autopsy: A small and contracted cavity found near anterior edge of right lobe ; no trace of ulceration in any part of colon. Case 12. (Under the care of Dr. Charles Ralfe).—*English ; fireman; aged 37; admitted August 14th, 1874; died August 20th. History of dysentery. Case 12, Medical Times and Gazette^ 1875, Vol, I., p. 33.