Medical evidence in railway accidents / by John Charles Hall.

  • Hall, John Charles, 1816-1876.
Date:
1868
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical evidence in railway accidents / by John Charles Hall. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the muscles over one hip were swollen, and the skin discoloured. From the time of recovering her senses she had been constantly sick; temperature of the body increased; pulse slow and feeble. Her medical attendant was fearful that premature labour would come on; but I am correct in stating that such is not a very usual result of railway accidents. The continued increased temperature, and slow pulse, were to me by far the most serious causes of anxiety; for, in all cases of severe concussion that I have seen, nothing has pointed so clearly to the probability of an unfavourable ter- mination as a feeble slow pulse, and an increased heat of shin. After a long and tedious illness, this lady improved, went to her full time, and ultimately recovered. The case was settled out of court for far less than is usual where injuries so severe have been sustained. The symptoms present in this patient supply an opportunity for speaking of the use of The Thermometer in Diseases. What has already been said of the ophthalmoscope, applies with equal force to the thermometer; and those physicians and surgeons who place no reliance either on the one or on the other, possibly do so from not having taken the trouble to ascertain how valuable may be the assistance rendered by them in the investi- gation of certain affections following railway accidents. The use of the thermometer, in diseases, will always be regarded as valuable, by all who have made them- selves masters of the indications which its readings convey. A high temperature, and a slow and feeble pulse, after a concussion of the brain or spinal chord in a railway accident, are most unfavourable, although not always fatal, symptoms. In erysipelas, in some few cases of pneumonia, and fever, temperatures above 105° may be met with with- out being necessarily of evil prognostic omen ; but, in F