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.

    35/512 (page 31)
    in the stomach of inebriates. Tlirono'hont the surface of the inncns membrane there were fonml a laro'e nnmber of ulcers, two of which had eaten throng-h the entire structure of the stomach, and near its pyloric orfice the membranes were of exceeding- thickness. We carefully examined the other organs of the body, and found them in a normal condition with the excei)tion of the brain and liver. The brain was indurated, and throughout the clnra-inater and pia mater an oily sub- stance was deposited. The central lobe of the liver avas much enlarged, and the entire organ in an abnormal state. THE LIVER. The liver, next to the stomach and brain, is an organ most subject to diseased action from alcoholic poison. The venous blood of the body highly charged with alcohol arrives at the laboratoi’v of the liver Avhere it is manufactured into Aotiated bile, nntitted to assist or promote a normal diges- tion. Repeated congestions of contaminated blood circulat- ing through the vessels of the li\ar disorder its functions and disorganize its structure. The most striking instance of a diseased liver that has come under onr obseiwation Avas that of a Scotchman Avho died in Glasgow in ISbO. The history of this case Avas given to ns by his brother, Avho Avas ]iresent at the post-mortem. He stated that his brother had been a hard drinker of beer and Avhiskey for fifteen years. Three months before he died he had lost the ])ower of locomotion on account of his immense size. His death was sudden and unexpected. On the examination of tlie body it Avas found that the seat of the disease Ava,s in the liver. This organ AA-eighed thirty-tAvo pounds and six ounces, and Avas a, fatty degenerate mass, Avhich morbid condition is only found in this disease. In other examinations of the liver Ave find a species of tubercle diffused through its Avliole substance. These anomalous productions are of a light broAvn color, and on section liaA^ea grannlated a]ipearanee. TheyA'ary in size, but most generally are of the bulk of a pea. They are the result of a sIoav process of disease ])roduced in the liA^er from the alcoholic state of the blood in the chronic stage of inebriety. THE LUNGS. Since Ave liaA^e been iin'estigating the morbid anatomy of this disease Ave have observed an emaciation of the body.