Case of peculiar disease of the skull and dura matter / [John Hutton Balfour].

  • Balfour, John Hutton, 1808-1884
Date:
1836]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Case of peculiar disease of the skull and dura matter / [John Hutton Balfour]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    years, but his intellectual powers had always been vigorous and active. About three years previously he had been affected with pulmonary complaints, which were relieved by bleeding and the antiphlogistic regimen. Subsequently to this he complained of pain in his head, which had continued to recur at intervals ever since, but which had never assumed any degree of severity till within the last few weeks. With the view of easing the pain and procuring sleep, he had frequently of late resorted to the use of laudanum in considerable doses. His deafness had com¬ menced in the month of August last, after exposure to cold and wet, and had continued to increase since that period. No me¬ dical treatment had been adopted, from an impression on the part of his friends, that his complaints were owing to a want of tone and energy about the system, and would ultimately be relieved by proper attention to diet and regimen. From the state of the bowels and tongue, X was induced, in the first instance, to prescribe a full dose of purgative medicine. Cold was also applied to his head ; his ears were syringed with milk and water; and an embrocation was rubbed on the knee, hip, and shoulder. He was put upon light diet, and was order¬ ed to abstain from reading, and any violent exercise. The use of laudanum was also as much as possible prohibited. Next day the symptoms were unabated, and, as the medicine had not produced any effect, pills, consisting each of five grains of the coiocynth pill mass, and one drop of croton oil, were ad¬ ministered. The exhibition of four of these produced, on the 6th of October, a copious evacuation of indurated feces. Still, however, the symptoms were little relieved, and the headach continued to recur in paroxysms, which were particularly severe during the night, and forced him to have recourse to laudanum for the purpose of procuring sleep. The severity of the pain of the head was frequently indicated by a peculiar distressing ex¬ pression of countenance, a contraction of the muscles of the fore¬ head, and an involuntary sort of sighing. During the occur¬ rence of the pain he seemed to be uneasy in every position, and attempted to obtain temporary relief at one time by walking about the room, and at another by assuming a recumbent or sitting posture. When walking, the feeling of weight in the head an¬ noyed him much. The deafness was still very great; pulse very frequent; and tongue foul. Leeches were now applied to the head, and the bleeding was encouraged for several hours, and afterwards cold applications were continued. He was ordered to have a warm bath, and the purgative pills were repeated. The ears had been syringed several times with soap and water; but, as the deafness seemed to depend on some deep-seated dis¬ ease, this operation was now omitted. The leeching was fol-