Obstetric aphorisms: for the use of students commencing midwifery practice.

  • Swayne, Joseph Griffiths.
Date:
1861
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Obstetric aphorisms: for the use of students commencing midwifery practice. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    seized with violent spasmodic contractions ; tlie face is livid and horribly distorted, the respiration hissing, the tongue is thrust out, and a bloody foam issues from the mouth. After a few minutes the fit passes off, and returns again in half an hour, an hour, or more. According to the severity of the case, consciousness may be completely, partially, or not at all, regained during the intervals. The muscular contractions diu-iug'' the paroxysms are so violent, that the attendants often have the greatest difficulty in keeping the patient upon the bed. The tongue beuig thmst out, is very liable to be bitten, in consequence of the contrac- tions of the muscles of the jaw. Hence it is that the saliva is so apt to be tinged with blood. The lU'ine and fjeces are often expelled involuntarily during the con^mlsions. The progress of labour, although in some degree interfered with, is not arrested by the convidsions. The fits are apt to reciu- simulta- neously with the pains, and the child may be born diu-ing one of these paroxysms. Under such circumstances, it is very likely to be dead, or to die soon after its birth. In bad cases, the breathing remains stertorous, and the patient lies in a comatose state between the fits. Epileptic convulsions may occur in very opposite conditions of the circiUating system. In most cases they appear to be connected with a state of hyper£emia. In some few instances, they have been noticed in connexion with extreme anfemia, from flooding. In others again, a state of toxfemia has been recognised, by the presence of albumen in the m-ine. It must be obvious, that diametrically opposite principles of treatment would apply to the first and second class of cases. Hysterical and Apoj)lectic Convulsions—Diagnosis. 25. Besides the epileptic form of convulsions, there are the hysterical and apoplectic. These are distin-