The laryngoscope : illustrations of its practical application, and description of its mechanism / by George Duncan Gibb.

  • George Duncan Gibb
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The laryngoscope : illustrations of its practical application, and description of its mechanism / by George Duncan Gibb. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    17/58 (page 13)
    and he had to expectorate frequently. In December, i86z, I exhibited him, with others, before the Medical Society of London, and then lost sight of him. In February last. Dr. Masters wote mc to say that A. S. was carried off by an attack of bronchitis, such as he had, to his knowledge, frequently been subject to. No post-mortem examination was made. Tluis ended the unfortunate case, which might have been attended with much more comfort to the patient had his constitution been better, and the laryngeal consumption less extensive than it was. Total loss of the epiglottis, loith aphonia from ulceration of the larynx and pharynx. In October, 1862, a lady consulted me from one of the Western counties, accompanied by her son and daughter. She was jet. 56, the mother of ten childi-en, and of delicate health. She was very well from June to November, 1861, when she had a relaxed sore-throat. A solu- tion of caustic was applied in April, i86z, and afterwards the solid sub- stance. Her illness when I saw her had been of twelve months' duration, with loss of voice since April, over six months. She has had ulceration of the fauces, for which the solid caustic has been rubbed round and round in the form of a complete circle, i. e., the diameter of the faucial space. Was never without ulcers, she said, imtil she commenced to take bismuth and henbane, a month ago. Stomach is often out of order; she is veiy nervous and easily agitated, and has spat up latterly sometimes a quart of mucus in the twenty-fom- hours. She is very pale, and speaks in a low but distinct whisper, and gave me the particulars of her case herself. Has no cough nor chest sym- ptoms ; can swallow fluid but not solid food; throat at times painful, with pricking of the fauces in the right side. Tongue is constantly covered with a thick, white, creamy fur along the back and sides, the tip is clean and pink. Laryngoscopy and inspection.—So irritable was the throat that my examination the first day was unsatisfactory, but both on it and the second day (17th and 18th) I contrived thoroughly to see all the parts. The mucous membrane of the fauces was bathed in a profuse secretion, especially the first day, the membrane was sensitive and extremely congested. A large, deep, and ir- regular ulcer occupied the middle of the back of the pharynx, and could be seen only by de- pressing the tongue with a depressor. Another was present in the right side of the phaiynx, laterally, seen with the laryngeal mirror— this one gave rise to the pricldng pain. Several other smaller ulcers were scattered here and there. The epiglottis was wholly destroyed down to its root, leaving the a, The remains of the epiglot- tis, b, The back of the tongue. The dark space re- presents the glottis.