A contribution to the study of some forms of albuminuria (nephritis) associated with kidney tension and their treatment / by Reginald Harrison.

  • Harrison, Reginald, 1837-1908.
Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: A contribution to the study of some forms of albuminuria (nephritis) associated with kidney tension and their treatment / by Reginald Harrison. 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.

    9/10 (page 7)
    on “ Scarlatinal Nephritis and its Varieties,” Dr. Meadows Turner1 remarks: “ Out of the 5,109 cases fifty-five died with nephritis either alone or complicated with other lesions. This number includes those who presented some symptoms during life, as well as some others in whom post-mortem extensive disorganisation of the kidney was found, though during life there were no sufficient symp- toms for diagnosing such a complication.” That inflammation attended with exudation, but not necessarily with suppuration, is sufficient to destroy the functional power of an organ is evidenced in the case of the testes, where ability to procreate is sometimes lost by synchronous or successive attacks of epididymitis on the two sides. The late Mr. Henry Smith, in connection with this subject, not only showed that the progress of this disease might be curtailed and pain removed, but that the function of the organ might be preserved by a limited division of the investing tunic. In this way, he urged, the disastrous effects of tension on the organ might be averted. I have frequently availed myself of this practice with advantage. A few words may be added as to the nature of the operation which might be appropriate in cases of sus- pected kidney tension and as to the time and occasion of its application. It may be briefly stated as being that usually adopted for the exploration of the kidney with the finger by means of a small transverse lumbar incision. The surgeon will then be able to judge from the feel of the organ as to whether it is desirable to open it. If the indi- cations are not clear the wound on being closed by sutures usually heals by first intention. At all events, no risk is incurred. In the second place, the operation should, of course, be reserved for cases where there is evidence that the recuperative power of kidneys suffering from nephritis is overweighted. Where after an attack of this kind the albumin is not disappearing from the urine, and there is a prospect, unless some relief is found, of permanently damaged kidneys resulting, then a trial of this expedient may be undertaken without adding to the gravity of the circumstances. In what time all traces of a nephritis, either acute or subacute, should have disappeared from Guy's Hospital Reports, 1894.