Report on the pathology of the diseases of the army in the East.
- Lyons, Robert D. (Robert Spencer Dyer), 1826-1886.
- Date:
- 1856
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Report on the pathology of the diseases of the army in the East. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.
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![The specific gravity of the Cerebrum (grey and white matter mixed), in our observations at Scutari, was found to be - - - - 1'033 „ in these countries 1037 „ Cerebellum, at Scutari - 1'036 „ „ in these countries 1*043 The averasje in the cases observed in these countries was taken from numerous mixed cases which were not chronic. The diminution in the specific gravity of the Brain, as observed by us in the cases of Chronic Disease above alluded to, were probably of only an atrophic nature, and still within the physiological limits, as no deranirement of nervous function had been obvious during life. Dura Mater.—In cases of Cholera, especially if prolonged beyond 24 hours, a very loaded condition of the sinuses of the Dura Mater became very obvious; it was always associated with excessive congestion in patches of the Pia Mater, and also of the Choroid plexuses. Arachnoid.—Opacity of this membrane was an almost constant condition in the long continued Typhoid states, and in many cases of chronic Dysentery. It was sometimes associated with marked thickening, most evident over the superior surfaces of the cerebral hemispheres, and at the anterior and posterior sub-arachnoid spaces. With such states there was always more or less increase of the sub-arachnoid fluid. In many cases also this increased sub-arachnoid effusion Avas co-existent with general wasting and diminution in the bulk of the brain. At the base of the brain sub-arachnoid effusion was sometimes to be observed in Cholera cases. Membrane of the Ventricles.—In Cholera cases bloody serum has been found in the lateral Ventricles, and also in the third, which has on one occasion been ol)served to be excessively distended. Pia Mater.—Increased vascularity of the Pia Mater has been, as just stated, not infre- quently found in Cholera cases. Partial haimorrhagic eff usions, implicating tlie convex sur- faces of the hemispheres, have also been observed. Vertebral Canal. Spinal Mcniiiges.—General increased vascularity of the men^ibranes of the Spinal Cord has been found in Cholera, likewise in some cases of Tetanus, but nothing characteristic has been determined in this respect. Spinal Cord.—Diseased conditions of this portion of the Nervous centres have been rarely met with. In a case of Tetanus, a portion of the Cord occupying the lower part of the cervical, and the upper part of the dorsal regions, exhibited a remarkable state of varicosity. The whole canal was deeply congested, and on slitting up the membranes, the nervous tissue for the extent of some three or four inches in the situation stated, was found to present a well marked varicose condition, alternate constrictions and enlargements being observable throughout the part implicated. The constrictions amounted to from a sixth to a fourth of the diameter in several places. No further abnormal appearances could be detected on section. It will be as well to state that in this case the injury was in the lower extremity. Cavitt of the Thorax. Areolar Tissue.—The Areolar connective tissue surrounding the great vessels and mediastinal spaces has, in cases of long continued disease, especially in those in which the morbid lesions were of a complex kind, been found infiltrated with fluid ; sometimes this fluid was of a sero-purulent character ; it was for the most ]3art associated with effusion and exudation in the contiguous serous cavities. Pleurcs :—Idiopathic Acute Inflammatory Affections of these membranes liave not been met with in our examinations; and there is reason to think that if any such existed, they must have been of the very rarest occurrence. Pleuro-Pneumonia.—Examples of pleuro-pneumonia have occurred, but were infrequent. Pleural Adhesions. — The cases of pleural adhesions which came under observation were of old standing, exhibiting more or less defined bands or cords, and seldom much limiting the play of the Thoracic organs. _ Pleural Exudations.—More or less circumscribed patches of exudation have been con- stantly presented on the pleural surfaces in chronic cases. Limited exudations of this kind we have seen to occur in connexion with engorgement or coridensation of the contiguous pulmonary structures in Typhoid Fevers, in complex Dysenteric cases, and in Tuberculosis : partial adhesions to the parietes, witli the formation of loculated spaces enclosing circum- scribed effusions, have been found in Dysenteric cases. Sero-purulent Effusions have occurred in Dysenteric case.-^, complicated with Tuberculosis, and also in connexion with the Scorbutic Dy^crasis. Excessive serous effusion into the cavity of the plcuras was not an uucouuuon mode of ter- mination of cases of long continued disease, such as chronic Dysentery. In one sucli case, upwards of 100 ounces seemed to be suddenly effused into the left Pleural cavity, and was the more immediate cause of death. It was of sero-sanguineous nature, and coagulated in a few minutes after removal from t'ne cavity. In another case of chronic Dysentery, preceded by repeated attacks of Rheumatism, both the Pleural cavities and the Pericardium were the seat of fluid effusion. In both Pieurge the](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21300616_0112.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
