Two cases of fatal obstruction of the intestinal canal by peritoneal bands / by C.R. Thompson.

  • Thompson, Charles Robert.
Date:
[1850]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Two cases of fatal obstruction of the intestinal canal by peritoneal bands / by C.R. Thompson. 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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    TWO CASES OF FATAL OBSTRUCTION OF THE INTESTINAL CANAL BY PERITONEAL BANDS. . s By C. R. THOMPSON, LATE HON. SEC. TO THE SOCIETY. Head on Thursday, February 14, 1850. Meohanical occlusion of some part of the intestinal canal, by intra-ab- dominal causes, has lately attracted great attention among English sur- geons ; chiefly with regard to the pro- priety of performing gastrotomy, in the hope of finding and relieving the stricture. Before any just conclusions can be arrived at on this point, more extended experience seems necessary, especially to determine whether we can predict with certainty the seat or nature of the constriction, during life: and whether the constriction is generally of such a nature that it might be relieved by an operation. This experience is only to be gained by the careful record of cases; and the exact report of the post-mortem appearances in such as terminate fa- tally. With this view, the two following cases, which have lately occurred in St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, are offered to the Society. The first is extracted from the regis- try of cases occurring in the Hospital, where it is reported by Mr. II. S- Webb; and the post-mortem appearances by Dr. W. S. Kirkes. Case I.—Mary G , a tall, dark- complexioned woman, aged 20, was ad- mitted into Faith ward, November 13th, 1848. Present condition.—Face dusky ; eyes sunken, with livid areolae around them; skin warm and dry; pulse 120, small, and rather sharp; lips dry; gums rather vascular-; slight sordes about the teeth ; tongue moist, coated on dorsum with very thick brown fur; clean at the edges. Bowels have not been open for seven days. Urine is said to be scanty, high-coloured, and depositing a thick sediment. Catamenia regular. Complains of slight vertigo, and of nausea when she lies on the back. The abdomen is distended; generally dull on percussion; intolerant of pressure, especially in the umbilical region. History.—Is a single woman, in do- mestic service; has always had good health until rather more than a fortnight ago, when she got wet feet, which checked the catamenial discharge. The next day she became very sick, and vo- mited whatever food she took, complain- ing also of a very severe griping pain in the umbilical region. She suffered rigors, followed by great heat of the skin. She kept about the house for four days, although unable to attend to more than a part of her usual duties. Two days after the seizure she was seen by a chemist, who gave her some medi- cine, which was vomited. She was seen frequently by this chemist, but always vomited the medicine, as well as any food she took. Ten days ago she left her place, and saw a medical man, who gave her medicine which relieved her symptoms, and she got better, until a week ago, when sbe went out walking. On her return she went to bed, and during the night the pain in the abdo- men and vomiting came on again, and with greater severity than before. She was bled, and has had leeches and fo- mentations applied to the abdomen during the past week, with the effect of relieving the pain. She has taken frequently aperient medicines, and enemata have been administered seven