Cases in midwifery / by the late John Green Crosse ; arranged (with an introduction and remarks), by Edward Copeman.

  • John Green Crosse
Date:
1851
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Cases in midwifery / by the late John Green Crosse ; arranged (with an introduction and remarks), by Edward Copeman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    with a strong convulsive fit. Mr. was soon in attendance, found her face very flushed (she was a tee-totaller, but a florid rather stout woman), and convulsions of the most severe kind, re- curring in the worst form. He bled freely from the arm—con- vulsions returned at short intervals, leaving her sensible when they were off. Castor oil was given—mustard poultices to calf of each leg and soles of feet—at length the convulsions returned every three-quarters of an hour, leaving the patient quite insen- sible in the intervals. This was the state when I arrived at one o'clock p. m., ten hours after the convulsions commenced. I found a pallid countenance, small and most rapid pulse—a douche of cold water over the head shortened a convulsive attack. I ascertained the bladder was not distended—gruel injections with Jij. sp, tereb., were given and repeated. As we could get no ice, we had bladders of water cooled by solution of amnion, mur. and pot. nit. [aa ^ jv.) and applied to the head, the hair being cut off. I repeated leeches behind the ear, but thought no further bleeding from the arm admissible—repeated mustard poultices more effectually to the feet and instep—gave 5 grs. of calomel in dry ])owder put upon the tongue, more than once. Thus both Mr. ■ ■ and I were incessantly employed for three or four hours ; convulsions (epileptic) returning every three-quarters of an hour. When I first arrived I hoped for recovery, calculating on the small proportion of such cases that prove fatal ; but about four o'clock, the attacks became more frequent, every quarter of an hour, and I thought the patient must sink. But after a severe attack at half-past four, there was no repetition till half-past nine; a slight attack. Patient became a little sensible—took a tea- spoonful or two of milk or gruel; and when I left at half-past six on Tuesday morning there had been no convulsion for nine hours, and although the pulse were very small and rapid, and the patient was scarcely sensible for two minutes at a time, I expected that without a return of convulsions she might recover. 26th.—The patient is doing favourably—the child is put to the breast ; but she does not remember anything of her labour, nor subsequently during the many hours I was with her. There was perfect recovery ; but the integuments and cellular substance of the calf of the legs sloughed from the sinapisms, causing great pain and trouble.