Report of ten cases of pleuritic effusion with aspiration of the chest / by F. Peyre Porcher. Fourth series., With a case of injection of carbolized iodine into a lung cavity.
- Francis Peyre Porcher
- Date:
- [1888]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Report of ten cases of pleuritic effusion with aspiration of the chest / by F. Peyre Porcher. Fourth series., With a case of injection of carbolized iodine into a lung cavity. 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.
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![some weeks, when death became inevitable. The tinctures of digitalis and strophanthus, and nitrite of amyl were used con- currently at intervals. Autopsy.—At the autops}-, which was performed with great care, pericardial adhesions existed, and botli pleural cavities were found still to contain a large amount of fluid ; both lungs were consolidated by the pressure of the fluid—with very little in the ])ericardial sac. The rigbt heart was greatly di- lated, and there was apparent insutficiency of the tricupsid consequent thereto. Hj-pertrophy slight. The mitral valves were diseased and vegetations encrusted the aortic valves, which were hard and almost calcified. It was interesting to observe the excessive dilatation of the pulmonary artery, which resembled the aorta in size. Its valves were perfect. Case IX.—J. M., white, aged 22. This case of excessive em- pyema of the thorax, I was invited to see with a friend, whom I assisted in aspirating the chest, with partial success. The pui-ulent accumulation was so excessive that it forced a pas- sage through the intercostal spaces, infiltrating the chest walls, and the patient may almost be said to have been deluged with pus. Under supportive and other measures he survived for some weeks. Case X.—This occurred in a white 3'outh, a-t. 16, under ray care in this city. The right cavity was found to be almost filled with fluid. A small quantity being aspirated, by the irritability set up, aided by iodide of potash, muriate of ammo- nia and diuretics, absorjition was slowly produced. Case XI.—S. Fisher, colored, a?t. 18, admitted Julj-25. Diag- nosis: tubei'culosis and pleuritic eft'usion in both cavities! This Avas an example very rare, we may be allowed to say, of complete failure in diagnosis; but it is recorded to show how this may occur. JSIo fluid was found upon two aspirations, but the use of the needle Avas followed b} no ill effects. The error was OAving to the fact that the lungs were in a state of cancer- ous degeneration, due to tuberculosis; there was complete dul- ness and every sign of the existence of fluid. So conclusive did they appear that it was the first case that a preliminary use Avas not made of the hypodermic needle to test for the pres- ence of fluid. Case XII.—Injection Into a Lung Cavity:—This case was interesting as it at least demonstrated that very slight disturb- ance, either local or general, may result from such a procedure. M. White, colored, eat. 35, admitted July 10th, suft'ered from a phthisical abscess in the left lung, with cough, purulent expec- toration, night sweat, and other symptoms of Avell-marked pul- monary disease. The cavity was single and so extensive and well defined as to render it extremely suitable for this form of treatment.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b22275290_0006.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
