An inquiry how far consumption is curable : with observations on the treatment, and on the use of cod-liver oil and other remedies : with cases / by James Turnbull.

Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An inquiry how far consumption is curable : with observations on the treatment, and on the use of cod-liver oil and other remedies : with cases / by James Turnbull. 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.

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    CASES, CASE VIT.—Thiud stagk far advanced; onexpkcted TESiPORAny REeOTERY, BUT FATAT, TERMINATION AT THE END OF TWELVE MONTHS WITH AN AFFECTION OF THE nRAIN. Mr. W., aged 35, was seeu by me on the 2d of February, 1849, in consultation with Mr. Atcherley. The patient had been intemperate in his habits, and dated liis illness from about the preceding Christmas. He was much emaciated, and had violent hectic fever. The pulse was above 120, and the perspi- rations were unusually profuse, continuing during the day as well as the night. He had no appetite, and the tongue was much loaded, but there was no diarrhcea. He was confined to bed, and had considerable cedematous swelling of the ankles—a symptom indicating great debility and an advanced stage of the disease. The cough was unusually violent and troublesome, and the expectoration was brought up with difficulty, and was of a tenacious muco-purulent character. The physical signs showed that the right lung was sound, but the left was exten- sively diseased. There was a great degree of dulness at the upper part, before and behind, and the gurgling and other signs of cavities were heard in both situations. Over every other part of the lung, mucous and subcrepitant rhouchi, mixed with sibilant, indicated that extensive softening of tubercular matter was going forward. We resolved to make trial of cod- liver oil, though we had little expectation of benefit i]i a case apparently so hopeless. Counter-irritation, with croton oil, was adopted, the diet was regulated, small doses of mercury with chalk and rhubarb were given, and an attempt was made to stop the perspirations with sulphuric acid. Sedative expecto- rants were at the same time given, to relieve the cough. These means were, however, of little service beyond preparing him for the use of cod-liver oil, which he began to take on the 9th of Eebruary. In a short time ho began to recover; and some