How to take histories and examine medical patients : a summary for beginners / London Hospital Medical College.

  • London Hospital Medical College
Date:
[1938?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: How to take histories and examine medical patients : a summary for beginners / London Hospital Medical College. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    used. It is often better to define the area in terms of ribs or interspaces, stating whether it is the anterior, lateral or posterior aspect of the chest which is involved. The following vertical lines may be used if a more accurate definition is required :—“‘ para-sternal ’’, “‘ mid-clavicular ”’, “anterior axillary ’’, “‘ mid-axillary ’’, and “ post-axillary ”’. The nipple and the various bony landmarks may also be used. (It should be remembered that the position of the scapula varies with the position of the shoulder-joint.) Having defined the area’ in question, the physical signs elicited from the underlying lung should be described in the following order :—inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation. Sputum :—Quantity and character. Minimal Statement where no morbid signs are present. Shape :—Normal] and symmetrical. Movements :—Good and symmetrical. No impairment of percussion note. Breath sounds vesicular ; no adventitious sounds. V.R. and V.F. normal. D. ABDOMEN. If morbid signs are present they should be described as best fits the case. The following order can usually be adhered to :— Inspection :—Shape; distension (general or local) ; movements with respirations; venous distension; umbilicus ; pulsation ; peristalsis. Palpation and percussion :—Tenderness ; rigidity ; hyper- eesthesia ; liver; spleen; kidneys; any other abdominal masses ; stomach; ascites; hernial orifices. Spine. In men :—Genitalia ; rectal examination. In women :—Uterus and appendages; vaginal and rectal examination. Stools. Minimal Statement where no morbid signs are present. Normal in shape. Moves well with respiration. No tenderness or rigidity. Liver, spleen, and kidneys not palpable, No ascites.
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