Hand-book of surgical operations / by Stephen Smith.

  • Stephen Smith
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hand-book of surgical operations / by Stephen Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    than men. Persons exhausted by haemorrhage are very easily affected by it, owing to the rapidity oi'its absorption, and hence it should always be administered to them with unusual care. Dr. Simpson has advised that chloroform be given by laying a handkerchief over the face, and letting the chloroform fall on it drop by drop. Resuscitation.—The towel or inhaler being removed, the patient's tongue should be drawn forward with forceps or a tenaculum, fresh air admitted from the door or windows, or induced by a fan, and artificial respiration instituted. Stimulating applications to the surface, cold douche to the head, and stimulating injections may be added. The main reliance is on artificial respiration, and this is best kept up by Marshall Hall's method as follows: Turn the body gently, and completely, on the side and a little beyond, and then on the face, alternately; repeating these measures deliberately, efficiently, and perseveringly, fifteen times in a minute, only [when the patient reposes on the thorax, this cavity is compressed by the weight of the body, and expiration takes place; when he is turned on the side, this pressure is removed and inspiration occurs]. When the prone position is resumed, make equable but efficient pressure along the spine ; removing it immediately before rotation on the side [the first measure augments the expiration, the second commences inspiration]. As soon as the patient can swallow, give brandy and ammonia. Efforts at resuscitatioD should not cease until death is evident. A method of producing artificial respiration has been introduced by Dr. Sylvester; it consists in laying the patient on his back, drawing the tongue forward, then carrying the arms slowly upwards over the head, thus elevating the ribs by means of the pectoral muscles, and inducing respiration; the arms are then brought down to the side of the chest and slightly compressed against it; these movements are to be repeated slowly as by the other method. If a galvanic battery is at hand it should be resorted, to among Other possible means of restoring animation.