Intestinal obstruction : when should operative measures be resorted to in intestinal obstruction? : being a part of the discussion on intestinal obstruction at the meeting of the Medical Society of the State of New York, February, 1888 / by Albert Vander Veer.

  • Vander Veer, A. (Albert), 1841-1929.
Date:
[1888]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Intestinal obstruction : when should operative measures be resorted to in intestinal obstruction? : being a part of the discussion on intestinal obstruction at the meeting of the Medical Society of the State of New York, February, 1888 / by Albert Vander Veer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    2/4 (page 2)
    ture from malignant disease at sigmoid flexure; and abdominal section in this case would have relieved the patient from much of the suffering, and would have prolonged her life, with proper additional operation. These two cases represent but a class of what I consider belong to the acute and chronic cases of intestinal obstruction. Of the conditions that produce the acute form of intestinal obstruction, I look upon the following as forming a group which bring with them such well marked symptoms as to com- mand immediate and prompt attention, and which I honestly believe are seldom relieved by any medical treatment; of the whole number, perhaps, intussusception is the only one in which nature has been able to hold out and with the aid of the physician relieve the patient: volvulus, intussusception, diver- ticula, including Meckel’s and appendix vermiformis, neck of returned hernial sac, lymph bands, false peritoneal ligament, slits in the omentum and mesentery, adhesion bands after abdominal section, peritonitis (general or local), foreign bodies swallowed, intestinal calculi, biliary calculi, true hernia within the abdomen and gunshot wounds in the intestines. The following are conditions which I believe produce a more chronic form and give the medical attendants a better chance for a correct diagnosis: neoplasms either external to the bowel or within the lumen, dy.sentery, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, impacted faeces, syphilitic gummata and matting together of adhesions. It must be evident to us all that the general practitioner can no longer look upon an autopsy revealing the cause of obstruc- tion and quiet his own thoughts, as well as the inquiries of friends, by saying: “ Well, nothing more could have been done than the medical treatment adopted, had we been aware, as we are now, of the true condition of affairs.” It becomes the duty of every man, at the present time in general practice, to acquaint himself with all that pertains to the causes and symptoms of intestinal obstruction. A careful study of this subject convinces me that the physicians and sur- geons should in the treatment of these cases join hands early. The early diagnosis of these cases, which in many, and I may