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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    months after, Mr. Atcherley informed me that he had got stout and well. About the beginning of July, I had again an oppor- tunity of examining him. He had then, for a longtime, ceased taking any oil, but was still so stout that I could not have known him. He had at that time a slight return of cough, but had been nearly free from cough or expectoration, until a few days previous. The upper part of the left side of the chest was still dull on percussion, though less so than when I first saw him. Eespiration was harsh and blowing, with some sibi- lant rhonchus, but there was none of the gurgling cavernous rhonchus; and towards the lower part of the lung the breath- sound Was natural. The habits of this patient have been so intemperate, that he has not given himself a fair chance of recovery; and when I saw him in the beginning of winter, I did not find that any farther progress towards reparation of the local disease had been made. About the middle of February 1850, 1 was again called to see this patient along with Mr. Atcherley. His cough, which had duiiug winter returned, had again for a fortnight ceased, and symptoms of an afl^ection of the brain had come on, so that when I saw him he was quite insensible. By the application of a small blister behind each ear, he was restored to a temporary state of consciousness, but died on the ] 7th of February. This patient did not give himself any chance of recovery; he was most intemperate in his habits, and although he had been raised up from the most advanced stage of consumption to such a state of health as to be able to go about and enjoy himself again, yet he would not persevere in the use of the means which had been of such remarkable service to him.