Monthly retrospect of the medical sciences : January to December 1849 / edited by George E. Day, Alexander Fleming, W.T. Gairdner.

Date:
MDCCCXLIX [1849]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Monthly retrospect of the medical sciences : January to December 1849 / edited by George E. Day, Alexander Fleming, W.T. Gairdner. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    vincial Journal for September 5, is inte¬ resting, although by no means unprece¬ dented. A man, aged thirty-six, had, among some obscure symptoms, difficulty in swallowing, with the feeling of something in his throat, some difficulty in breathing, with occa¬ sional cough, and the voice had become unnatural, being feeble, yet with great distinctness of intonation. There was also oppression about the chest. Soon after these symptoms were noted, he was sud¬ denly seized with a sense of suffocation, as if strangulated. Tracheotomy was thought of, but not performed. An un¬ usual pulsation or movement was noticed in the right supra-clavicular region. The attacks of spasm abated and recurred al¬ ternately for thirty-six hours, when the patient died. On examination, the oesophagus, pha¬ rynx, larynx, and trachea were found per¬ fectly healthy. The primary bronchi were rod and dry. An aneurism of the aorta was now discovered. It opened between the origin of the innominata and left sub¬ clavian branches, and was of the size of a hen’s egg. Careful dissection discovered the recurrent or motor laryngeal nerve passing immediately under the body of the tumour, and thus solved the “ difficulty ” of the case. 302.—Chloride of Zinc as a Preservative of Animal Matter.—Official reports (of which extracts appeared in the Medical Times for June 23) have lately been pub¬ lished regarding the efiScacy of Sir W. Burnett’s solution of the above salt in preventing and arresting putrefaction, and destroying noxious effluvia. It has now been extensively used in the navy; and is found efficient in preserving timber, can¬ vass, and cordage, and in destroying efflu¬ via, so as to have a strikingly salutary effect on the health of the crew, as ap¬ peared from a fair comparative experi¬ ment. It has also been employed for anatomi¬ cal purposes; and there are testimonials from Dr Sharpey and Mr Bowman, certi¬ fying as to its efficacy and usefulness when employed for injecting subjects, with a view to their longer preservation, and also in preserving permanently the different animal textures. It is absolutely necessary to use some preservative fluid during the summer months, if it is wished to dissect satisfactorily; and after having used a solution of chloride of zinc for the last three years, we can confirm the above testimony. It preserves the body much longer, and also checks decomposition which has already begun, and destroys effluvium. It does not destroy colour more than spirit does, nor does it take the edge off the knives, as all the other¬ wise good preservative solutions do. We have used it much for preserving dissec¬ tions of the nerves and other wet pre¬ parations, which require to be frequently handled; and some of these, after lying in it for the above-mentioned time, are now in perfect preservation. Although, on the whole, we prefer, for the latter purpose, common spirit, the zinc solution is less expensive, and does not require renewal. It is especially useful for cor¬ recting a preparation which is not too recent, before placing it in spirits. Mr Bowman dilutes Sir W. Burnett’s solution with fifty parts of water. II.—PRACTICE OF MEDICINE. 303.—Queries in Medical Ethics. By W. Fraser, Esq., M.R.C.S.E. —[The following queries and answers, which bear reference to certain points of a practical nature, were read before the Medico-Chirurgical Society of Aberdeen, in April last, by W. Fraser, Esq., Surgeon; the answers seemed to express the views in general entertained by members, on the points to which they refer.] Query 1.—If a patient wishes you to call into consultation a medical man of whose qualifications in the circum¬ stances of the case you may have an unfavourable opinion, is it proper or honourable to decline doing so, or to endeavour to alter the opinion of your patient ? Ans.—If your patient expresses a very decided wish to have a particular person called in, you ought to acquiesce, pro¬ vided there be no professional stain on his character sufficient to warrant you to decline doing so. His being junior to yourself, either in age or professional capacity, is certainly no sufficient reason. Query 2. —If, on being sent for by a patient, you find that he has been under the charge of another, who, from some reason or another, has discontinued his attendance, although it was still desired by the patient, is it proper in you to take charge of the case, or ought you previ¬ ously to communicate with the other medical attendant? Ans.—You should advise the patient to