The history of the first inebriate asylum in the world / by its founder [Jonathan Edward Turner]. An account of his indictment, also a sketch of the Woman's national hospital, by its founder.

  • Turner, J. Edward, 1822-1889.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history of the first inebriate asylum in the world / by its founder [Jonathan Edward Turner]. An account of his indictment, also a sketch of the Woman's national hospital, by its founder. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    pulsating’ strongly. His skin was hot and parched, bowels costive, stomach without power to retain food or medicine, and the nervous system in the highest state of excitement, preventing sleep. The i)atient died on the third day of his attack, after snlTei-ing the most excruciating torture. The body was examined twenty-four hours after death. The brain was diseased. The dura-niatPi- adhered A’erv stronglv to the skull, and was detached with difficulty, (dn the inter- nal surface of this membrane a thin layer of coagnlable lym])h was deposited. The veins of the/ha-/nater were tur- gid with blood. The ventricles were eidarged, the structure of the brain was tough and contained numerous granulated substances, varying in size from a pin's head to a pea. From blood taken from the brain, a small quantity of hydrogen gas was collected. The stomach showed the effects of the disease from the slate color of its mucus membrane, while the liver, lungs, heart, intestines, kidneys, bladder, sjjleen, gall-bladder and bladder urine, were in normal condition. In our dissections and post-mortems, we find in all cases of chronic inebriety which terminate in death, the brain is or- ganically diseased; and, we also find alcohol in the brain when there are no traces of it in the stomach. Of this phe- nomenon we shall s})eak hereafter. STOMACH. Active inflammation of this organ, ending in disorgani- zation and death, is rarel}^ met with as the insult of an acute attack of inebriety. We have seen only three cases that gave proof of this fact by dissection. On the other hand, the stomach next to the brain, is most liable to disorganiza- tion in the chronic form of this disease. Nor is this remark- able when we consider the numerous congestions following every dram of ardent sjiirits introduced into its cavity. The. following (’ase illustrates its morbid ap|)earance: Mr. S., a printer, aged (H), a. hard drinker for twent.v years, was con- flned to his bed ten days before we were called. AVe found the ])atient laboring under convulsions, which contimu'd un- til his death on tlu* twi'lfth da.v of his confinement to his bi'il. Tw(‘iity-four hours after death we examined the body. AA'e found the membranes of the stomacli much thickened throughout, and of a slaty color, which is only observable