A practical treatise on the diseases peculiar to women : illustrated by cases, derived from hospital and private practice / by Samuel Ashwell.

  • Ashwell, Samuel, 1798-1857.
Date:
1848
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A practical treatise on the diseases peculiar to women : illustrated by cases, derived from hospital and private practice / by Samuel Ashwell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    CASES. It were easy to increase the length of this Appendix, by inserting in it cases of a common functional kind; but these are so often seen, that they must be familiar to every practitioner. Case 1. insanity resulting from undue suckling. REPORTED BY DR. LEVER. Mrs. P , aged 28, of fair complexion, blue eyes and light hair, at the age of seventeen, suffered from chlorosis ; but, under a course of tonics and the advan- tages of sea-air, she recovered. In twelve months she again relapsed, and again recovered under the same treatment. At the age of nineteen she married ; and, before her twentieth year, she had a living male child. She nursed this child for twelve months, and was again confined soon after she had reached her twenty-first year. Since this period she has borne four living children, and has miscarried twice ; she has nursed every child. Her last infant was born eight months before I saw her. My attendance was requested on account of her having become very weak, very desponding, and sharp in her manner. On visiting her, I was struck with her pale, anxious countenance; the pupils were dilated; the pulse was small, quick, and irritable. She complained of great thirst, of-a pain at the top and back of her head, and there was also excessive leucorrhcea. I obtained answers to my questions with some difficulty; although in general she was exceedingly communi- cative. Tonics, change of air, &c, were ordered, and the child was partially weaned and fed. The symptoms, however, became worse, and her conduct was exceedingly violent. She attempted more than once to destroy both her husband and child. The latter was immediately removed ; her head was shaved ; nutritious but unstimulating diet was ordered, together with tonics and sedatives. These measures were diligently prosecuted ; but at length it was thought right to remove her to an asylum. Here she continued four months, and returned home entirely recovered. Ten months subsequently, she was again confined of a living child ; and within five months the insanity returned. After a fruitless emplo}Tment of remedies, she was again placed under restraint; and having remained there five months, she was sent home quite well. Twelve months from this period she gave birth to another living infant; and, at the suggestion of her medical attendant, she did not attempt to nurse it, and her intellect has since continued unimpaired. Remarks.—This is an admirable illustration of the opinions ad- vanced ; clearly demonstrating the dependence of the insanity on the suckling. It also proves that weaning is the only efficient preventive remedy. Case 2. insanity resulting from undue suckling. Mrs. J , aged 35 (July, 1837), is the mother of five children, and has been married seven'years. She is fair, and has light eyes and hair. Hitherto she has nursed her children very long; and during the last lactation, she was often flighty, passionate, and inconsistent. On my visit, I was struck with her excited and irritable manner. Her face was flushed; her eyes were directed very quickly to a variety of objects; and she attempted more than once to get out of the room. On inquiry, I found she had nursed already fifteen months, and was determined still to persevere, nor had she allowed the child to be fed even once in the day. The pulse was quick and feeble ; the tongue coated with a brownish fur; the appetite destroyed; and the pain at the pit of the stomach was very severe. I ordered a mild aperient, great quietude, with some saline effervescent medicine, and insisted that the child should be weaned, as this measure had, in her previous aberration, entirely cured her. I saw her ten days afterwards, and, excepting that she was somewhat reserved, she was clearly better. In three months she was entirely restored.