On the nature, causes, prevention and treatment of acute hydrocephalus, or water-brain-fever / [Thomas Smith].

  • Smith, Thomas, 1813-1887.
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the nature, causes, prevention and treatment of acute hydrocephalus, or water-brain-fever / [Thomas Smith]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    30/194 (page 10)
    This stage of excitement or inflammation, as it is called, may last four or five days, or it may be much shorter, and even limited to a few hours; but it will invariably be followed by a train of symptoms usually indicating the collection of water. Before I describe these symptoms, however, I have to record my opinion, that all the appearances, usually ascribed to effusion, may occasionally occur before death, and yet not a drop of water be found in the post-obit investigation. This disappointment must have occurred to every practitioner of large experience, who has paid any attention to the subject, and requires explanation. In such cases, it may be presumed, that the pressure from congestion, and the exhaustion, consequent on the previous febrile excitement, constitute a species of infantile apo¬ plexy, which is sufficient to destroy life. At all events, there is the fact. No one can denv it. A case is watched and managed under consultation from first to last. Death ensues, and on examination of the contents of the cranium, no water is found to have collected within the ventricles. Yet the febrile phenomena, and the course of the malady, may have corresponded with the ordinary regular course of water brain fever. The first sign of commencing effusion in my experience is the rolling of the eyes during sleep, with a pulse gradually diminishing in frequency. The somnolency becomes more permanent, and the fever less active. The pulse is now slow and laboured. The cheeks arc no longer steadily flushed, but alter-