On the treatment of cancer by the regulated application of an anæsthetic temperature / by James Arnott.

  • Arnott, James (James Moncrieff), 1794-1885.
Date:
1851
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the treatment of cancer by the regulated application of an anæsthetic temperature / by James Arnott. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    but she had since continued nearly free from it. She was still affected with nausea and occasionally with vomiting. On the third day, as the pain had returned, I again applied the frigorific, but in a more efficient manner. Having ascer¬ tained on the previous occasion that the vagina would admit a large speculum, I now introduced one, and continued the congelation twice as long. Still the remedy was not perfectly employed. The patient’s room was small and dark ; and there was not proper accommodation for preparing the frigorific with the other necessary adjuncts. Its operation was proportionally ineffectual. The pain ceased after the mixture came in contact with the womb, but it returned, I was told, almost immediately after my leaving the house, and continued with its usual severity nearly two hours. The interval, however, of comparative ease that succeeded, was longer than before ; and her general condi¬ tion has already improved by the opiate being no longer re¬ quired to assuage the pain. During her continuance in the apartment where I first saw her, several other applications were made, and on one occasion, nitrate of ammonia was added to the common frigorific mixture0 These were all, for the reasons mentioned, more or less imper¬ fect ; though each gave immediate and complete relief, and was followed by an interval of ease, which was not, however, either so long or so perfect as is usually obtained by the remedy pro¬ perly applied. The disease, notwithstanding, or the accom- panying inflammation, at least, was evidently giving way; and each successive congelation appeared more useful than that which preceded it. On her removal in N ovember to a larger apartment in another house, I was enabled to apply the remedy in the most effectual manner, as is described minutely in the following extracts from my case book :—- “ November 22.—Mrs. P. has been quite free from pain, since the application this day se’nnight. It was then continued for about an hour and a half, and nearly Slbs. of ice were expended. She had no painful sensation during it, of any kind. She has