Instances of some of the rarer varieties of morbid growths swellings, &c. connected with the organs contained within the abdominal cavity.

  • Ogle, John W. (John William), 1824-1905.
Date:
[cbetween 1800 and 1899?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Instances of some of the rarer varieties of morbid growths swellings, &c. connected with the organs contained within the abdominal cavity. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    Post-mortem examination.—The heart was very flabby, and a small quantity of atheroma existed on the anterior flap of the mitral valve. The other thoracic organs were natural. The various coils of small intestine and the abdominal viscera were adherent to each other by recent adhesions, and the cavity itself (where not obliterated by other adhesions) was fiUed with a fetid grumous fluid much resembling the contents of the small intestine ; and, as the adhesions in various parts of the cavity were broken down, this fluid oozed out from circumscribed cavities in the peritoneum, giving, at first sight, the impression that the intestine was perforated. This, was, however, not the case, as the internal surface of the intes- tine, examined all the way from the stomach to the anus, was nowhere diseased, though the external surface was covered by lymph and in- flamed. The subperitoneal areolar tissue was occupied by a peculiar deposit, of a strongly fetid odour, and of a grumous character, the origin and nature of which was uncertain. The stomach and other abdominal and pelvic organs were quite healthy. [197.] Case VII.—Enormous soft encephalo'id tumour^ weighing 30 Z6s., con- nected loitli the great omentum. A few nodules of the same connected ivith the mesentery. Other organs natural. John B., set. 42, was admitted November 22, 1865, having had a swelling of the stomach six weeks. It appeared that he noticed it first in the region of the ilio-ceecal valve ; and that it was not attended by vomiting, but was accompanied by some pain ; the bowels having been regular. On admission, a large, soft, quaggy, ill-defined, smooth, superficial tumour, free from pain or tenderness, existed at the lower part of the abdomen. The urine was natural; the bowels were opened (the evacuations appearing as if they had been long retained), and the tumour seemed smaller afterwards ; but they were sluggish, requiring strong purgatives. The belly became more swelled and tense, but the general health did not suffer. No fluctuation was found, but the whole anterior of the abdomen was dull on percussion (not otherwise, on change of position), the flanks being resonant. The distension be- came much increased by flatulence. On the 25th of January vomiting for the first time set in, and continued until death. He now began to lose flesh and to become unhealthy-looking ; the bowels only acted by enemata. He sank, and died January 28th, Post-mortem examination.—The thoracic organs were natural. The abdominal walls were adherent to a large mass beneath. After the adhesions had been removed, an enormous tumour of soft enceph- aloid carcinoma was found occupying the whole front of the belly, extending from the diaphragm to the pubes. This was connected with the great omentum, and could be turned out of the cavity so as to display the viscera behind. The mass was divided into lobules, so that it had a very close resemblance (in appearance as well as con-