Contributions to the surgical treatment of tumors of the abdomen. Part II. Electricity in the treatment of uterine tumours / by Thomas Keith and Skene Keith.

Keith Skene, 1858-1919.

Date:: 1889

Credit: Contributions to the surgical treatment of tumors of the abdomen. Part II. Electricity in the treatment of uterine tumours / by Thomas Keith and Skene Keith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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

250/272 page 238

$to be let out six inches. The pain has been so acute on the left side for the last five or six weeks that poultices have had to be kept almost constantly to the part. There has not been any menorrhagia. The tumour is a very large one, and its weight is probably nearer forty than thirty pounds. It is immensely broad from side to side, and extends very high up under the ribs and sternum, raising the thoracic wall enormously. The tumour extends deeply into the pelvis, and an enormous artery is felt close to the cervix, which is itself small, and situated well up on the right side. The cavity measures about 5 inches. The weight of the mass has prevented the patient taking much e.xercise, and since the rapid increase in size a couple of months ago, she has been scarcely able to walk. The treatment consisted in thirty applications, in all of which the sound was made negative. The strength of current was never great, averaging slightly over 90 milliam- peres. dftJi August.—45 milliamperes for 5 minutes. ^th „ 45 „ „ 5 „ 11 til „ 45 „ „ 5 Feels certain that she is stronger, and can move about rather more easily. \1tJi August.—60 milliamperes for 5 minutes. i^th „ 75 „ „ 5 For the first time for fully two months the patient was able to go out for a short walk, and there is less pain. I'jth August.—85 milliamperes for 5 minutes. 20t]i „ 55 „ „ 5 » There has been a decided increase in the amount of pain in the tumour, but unaccompanied by any inflammatory .symptoms. 2^t]i August.—75 milliamperes for 5 minutes. There has been an easy period, with rather more discharge$