Aids to obstetrics : double part / by Samuel Nall.

  • Nall, Samuel.
Date:
[1885?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Aids to obstetrics : double part / by Samuel Nall. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    133/150 (page 129)
    (which is known by the onset of abdominal pain, tympanites, thoracic respiration, vomiting, etc.), pleurisy, pneumonia, peri- carditis, nephritis (which are recognised by their usual symp- toms and signs). Rigors and exacerbations of temperature are common, owing to fresh absorption of septic matter. The patient either dies from one of these complications, or she may pass into a typhoid condition, with low muttering delirium, rapid thready pulse, brown dry tongue, and die within a week or ten days without any local complication. In the pysemic form of the disease the course is more chronic, and secondary inflammations occur, which result in suppuration in different parts, e.g., joints, muscles, serous cavities, and the various viscera. Rigors and exacerbations of temperature usher in the inflammatory processes. Jaundice is very common. Treatment.—Prophylactic.—Whilst attending a case of puer- peral fever, or infectious disease, the practitioner should, if possible, not take charge of any case of labour; if, however, this is impossible, the clothes should be changed and the hands washed in some antiseptic solution before attending the labour case. The nurse in attendance should be scrupulously clean. All instruments, sponges, etc., should be cleansed and disinfected before use. In a lying-in hospital patients with puerperal fever should be immediately isolated. When the disease is present, the first thing to be done is to prevent further absorption of septic matter by washing out decom- posing clots, sloughs, and pieces of placenta, etc., from the uterus and vagina; for this purpose injections of solutions of Condy’s fluid, or carbolic acid, should be used twice daily. The patient ought to be enabled to outlive the action of the poison. To fulfil this indication, her strength must be supported by giving her, at frequent intervals, easily assimilated nutritious food, such as beef essence, milk, eggs, etc. Stimulants are often necessary, especially if the patient passes into a low typhoid condition. The high temperature is of itself injurious, and measures should be taken to reduce it; for this purpose Sulphate of Quinine gr. x may be given night and morning, or Salicylate of Soda gr. xv every six hours, or Tincture of Aconite in one minim