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

  • Samuel Solly
Date:
1865
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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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    It is evident from the serious effect produced upon the nervous system, wliich has even extended from the spinal cord up to the brain, how severe a twist the spinal column itself must have received. There must have been a temporary and partial displacement, though probably only momentary, or the cord, which is so beautifully protected, could not have been so much injured. The cause appears slight, in comparison with the lesion produced; and we can only account for it on the principle before adverted to, namely, that the muscles, as supporters of the columns, did not faithfully perform their duty, either from want of sufficient power, or from their being taken unawares, before they had time to contract efficiently. I think it right to employ the cupping-glasses in these cases, in the first instance, as bemg more efficient in the acute stage of inflammation, and less painful than the moxa. This patient has been much relieved by these measm’es, and the symptoms of injury to the cord very much alleviated. I cannot im2Dress too strongly on yom* mind, the necessity of treating such cases actively at first, and watching them carefully afterwards. I have two cases in my mind’s eye at this moment, in which partial jparalysis followed from what I must again designate as S2)rain of the s]pine. The one occimred to a steward on board a vessel, as he was lifting some very heavy trunks belonging to a jiassenger; the other to a carjienter. The first case was in private; but the subject of the latter was a 2>atient in Henry’s Ward; and as his case is short, I will read it to you. Henry Lambton, a3t. 29, married man, tbi’ee children, by trade a cai’penter; states that he has always had good health ; appearance not strumous; was admitted into Henry’s Ward, January 25th, 1842, with partial paraplegia. He is scarcely able to walk, catching his toes against the gi'ound, and chcagging his limbs as he supports himself with a stick; without which, indeed, he could not stand. His legs and thighs feel numb; the left extremity is rather the worse, both in respect to sensation and motion. He has not now, nor ever had, any pain in his head. His general health is good. His account is, that one year previous to his admission into the hospital, he strained his loins lifting a very heavy weight. He felt