Albuminuria, with and without dropsy : its different forms, pathology, and treatment / by George Harley, M.D., F.R.S.

  • Harley, George, 1829-1896.
Date:
1866
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Albuminuria, with and without dropsy : its different forms, pathology, and treatment / by George Harley, M.D., F.R.S. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by University of Bristol Library. The original may be consulted at University of Bristol Library.

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    the health of the mother is rendered precarious by the con- stitutional disturbance arising from the albuminuria. Thus, Dr. Lee related a case to the Medical-Chirurgical Society in 1863, in which he had induced the expulsion of a fourth month's foetus in a pregnancy complicated with albuminous urine, dropsy, and amaurosis, after which the albumen gradually disappeared, and the yisiou of the patient improved. When in the course of puerperal albuminuria convulsions have once manifested themselves, the readiest and safest means of subdumg them appears to be by the free administra- tion of an anjEsthetic. Chloroform has been most commonly employed for this purpose, but as insensibility has usually to be kept up for a considerable time, it is much safer to employ the mixture which I proposed some years ago, and which received the approval f the Chloroform Committee of the Royal Medical-Chirurgical Society. The mixture consists of one part by measure of pure alcohol, two parts of chloro- form, and tliree parts of sulphuric ether. The advantages of this mixture need not be here alluded to, as they were fully dwelt upon in the report of the above-mentioned committee. As regards albuminuria associated with organic disease of the heart, liver, or pancreas, as well as in that variety the concomitant of general affections, the principles already indicated must serve as the landmarks to the treatment of the renal distvu-bance; w'hereas the other disease or diseases forming the complication are to be treated according to their special requirements. Always remembering that the removal of the cause, rather than the mitigation of its effects, ought to be the first consideration. A great deal more might be written regarding albuminmia, but I think enough has been said for my present purpose, which has been merely to point out the general principles which ought to guide our diagnosis and treatment. Every