Two cases of gunshot wound of the abdomen : illustrating the use of rectal insufflation with hydrogen gas as a diagnostic measure / by N. Senn.

  • Senn, Nicholas, 1844-1908.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Two cases of gunshot wound of the abdomen : illustrating the use of rectal insufflation with hydrogen gas as a diagnostic measure / by N. Senn. 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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    was placed opposite the sutured rectal wound, and the abdominal incision closed in the usual manner. Whiskey was freely administered hypodermatically during the operation and after its completion, as the patient remained pulseless for half an hour. Time of operation two and a half hours. The foot of the bed was elevated and dry heat applied to the extremities. io p. m. Temp. 99.50 F.; pulse rapid and weak. About one ounce of bloody serum withdrawn from glass drain. Sept, io, 8 a. m. Temp. 990 F.; pulse 126. Clear serum only in the drain; about one drachm with- drawn every three hours. During the day the pa- tient was slightly delirious, and in the absence of the nurse he got out of bed and walked across the ward to another bed. 8 p.m. Temp. 99.8° F.; pulse 144. Some tym- panites. Ordered one drachm of turpentine in half a pint of warm water, as an enema, which was fol- lowed by free discharge of feces and flatus. nth. Temp, normal; pulse 104. Natural passage from bowels; delirium continues. 12th. Temp, normal; pulse 96; delirium disap- peared. Allowed liquid food in small quantities. ijth. Pulse 72. The contents of the glass drain have a suspicious fecal odor. Glass replaced by rubber drain. Slight diarrhoea, which relieved the tympanites. 14th. A fecal fistula has formed along the track of the drainage-tube. Large rubber tube intro- duced through the anus, and left in rectum to allow free escape of fluid feces. Fluid injected into fis- tula does not flow through the rectal tube. Rectum disinfected every four hours with saturated salicylic acid solution.