Surgical experiences : the substance of clinical lectures. / By Samuel Solly.

  • Samuel Solly
Date:
1865
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Surgical experiences : the substance of clinical lectures. / By Samuel Solly. 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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    an angular curvature, the convexity projecting back- wards. Its diagnosis is extremely important, and it shall form the subject of future observations. In the other class of distortions, the spine is more or less curved laterally, and known under the name of lateral curvature. And although caries of the spine is occasionally to be met with in connection with lateral curvature, it is not usually the primary affection; and for general purposes the terms angular and lateral cur- vature sufficiently distinguish them into two grand ]3athological classes. I have now selected the subject of lateral curvature, as it may be well illustrated by the following case, taken when the subject of it was first admitted, by Mr. Perry, and subsequently by the present dresser, Mr. Penwick :—■ HaiTiet Town, ast. 18, miUmer, single, sliglit made, and rather strnmons appearance, admitted into Lydia’s Ward, St. Thomas’s Hospital, on the 15th of Angnst, 1842, with lateral cniwature of the spine. The principal curve in the dorsal region, with its convexiiy to the right side; sHghter curve in the lumbar region; convexity to the left side. The general appearance of the figure not much altered when viewed anteriorly; bnt posteriorly, in addition to the deformity produced by the curvature of the spiue, the projection of the scapula is very decided. She traces her present condition to ill health six yeai’s ago. At this time she suffered much from pain in her left side, which caused her to lean in that direction. There has not been any catamenial disorder. Menstruation came on at the age of fourteen, and contmued regularly since that period, though her general health has never been very good. She says she is at jaresent getting worse, that she is very weak, that her appetite is very variable, that she persphes on the slightest exertion; she complains of dull aching pains in the loins, much in- creased by percussion on the vertebrae ; occasional numbness of the legs, but no paralysis of motion. The treatment pmsued before her admission was chiefly the administration of tonic medicines, and the application of strengthening plasters to her back. She attributes the want of improvement to having closely devoted her- self to needlework. On her admission, I dh-ected her to maintain the recumbent posture dui’ing the greater part of the day, and to use her left hand and arm in learning to sew, not employing the right more than was absolutely necessary; a moxa on the side of the lumbar portion of the spiue, where her pain was more severe ; as a tonic medicine—mist, iodin. c. gent, ter die; pil. aloes c. myrrh, occasionally.