Eight cases of melanosis : with pathological and therapeutical remarks on that disease / by William Norris.

  • Norris, William.
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Eight cases of melanosis : with pathological and therapeutical remarks on that disease / by William Norris. 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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    tills mole a tumour began to arise. On examination, I found the swelling was nearly of half the size of a hen’s egg, of a deep brown colour, of a firm and fleshy feel, ulcerated on its surface, which dis- charged a highly foetid ichorous fluid. The apex of the tumour was broader than its base. Some few months after the appearance of this tumour, several distinct brown nodules of similar structure sprung up around it, some with slender necks, others with broader bases. This singular production gave him pain and uneasiness, and was at length removed by the knife ; and the wound went on favourably, and slowly healed. In less than six weeks, from the cicatrised surface, the tumour again began to grow, and felt hard and semi-cartilaginous; and very soon tubercles of a livid colour surrounded the tumour, some of them separated from and others growing into each other. Of the latter sort there were at least forty in number, forming a mass of disease extending nearly from the spine of one os ileum to the other, and bearing some resemblance to a large bunch of dark-coloured grapes; some of them flattened on the surface, and of various sizes. The prominent scirrhous- looking tumour, about as large as a moderate-sized apple, occupied the centre ; the tubercles already formed progressively Increased, while fresh ones arose in their vicinity. The glands of the groin were swollen, and slightly tender to the touch. This disorganisation of parts was effected in two months, and con- tinued to increase after that period. Yet the general health of the patient was not so much impaired as to prevent the regular use of exercise, nor did it interfere with the pursuits of business. Pains occa- sionally affected the tumour and other diseased parts, and an early and continued symptom was an excruciating pain complained of helow the left kidney. The urine at times resembled porter, and deposited a late- ritious sediment. At length the constitution began to suffer more severely, and now the countenance assumed a faint lurid hue; nausea and loss of appetite gradually came on, accompanied by restlessness and excessive depression of spirits. Dark blue spots arose in the vicinity of a mole on the sternum ; others appeared in succession on the sides of the body and on the back ; and very soon the forehead and scalp were disfigured with the same morbid appearances. The whole body seemed to participate in this disease of structure, and to preclude all hope of relief from any surgical operation, and to leave no resource beyond palliative treatment. With reluctance, therefore, I felt compelled to leave him to his fate. Gradually increasing dyspnoea came on, along with a cough, daily augmenting in severity. The constitution suffered more severely, almost every function more or less Impaired, and the patient very soon unable to leave his bed-room. All that art could do was, if possible, to alleviate his sufferings, which were excessive ; but the relief that could be given was only partial. He