Medical report of the Royal Lunatic Asylum of Aberdeen, for the year ending 31st December, 1873.

  • Royal Lunatic Asylum of Aberdeen (Aberdeen, Scotland)
Date:
1874
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical report of the Royal Lunatic Asylum of Aberdeen, for the year ending 31st December, 1873. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    on section, a thick purulent matter was seen in several of the smaller bronchi. The larger bronchi were filled with a glary tenacious frotlyv fluid. The lower lobe of this lung was very oedematous. The left lung weighed 10 oz ; it was everywhere adherent to the pleural cavity, except at the lower and posterior part where there was a large collection of serous fluid. The pleura was very much thickened and layers of organized lymph could be torn off from the sides of the cavity in pieces of a quarter of an inch in thickness. The lower lobe of the lung on being separated, sunk in water ; it did not crepitate on pressure, hut the ujjper lobe was crepitant all over. The mucous membrane of the stomach was of a dingy brown colour and much softened. Case X., J. A., .^Et. 33.—-A labourer ; was admitted 28th August, 1873. He had a vacant expression of countenance, was unable or unwilling to answer questions ; moved about constantly and required close watching to prevent him from tearing the bed clothes. He was in a very weak physical condition—pulse very irregular, with bronchitic symptoms, bed sores over left trochanter, and surface of body cold and livid. A physical examination of the chest gave evidence of hypertrophy with valvular disease of the heart. On the 26th of September, he had a sever attack of hsemoptysis and died on the evening. Post-Mortem Examination twenty hours after death. The thorax only -was examined. The pericardium contained about half a pint of pale straw coloured fluid. The heart was much enlarged, weighing 16 oz. On the anterior surface near the apex was a patch of organized lymph. The auricles were soft, flabby, and dilated, containing blood and clots. The ventricles were both empty. The walls of the left ventricle were hypertrophied, being an inch in thickness. The right auricul-ventrieular opening was larger than normal, easily admitting the ends of three fingers, the left was small, barely admitting the points of two, and the valve was roughened and contracted by a number of small warty looking bodies. The right lung, on its anterior border and external surface was emphysematous, and to a less extent the middle and lower lobes. The lung weighed 38 oz. The anterior surface of the lower lobe presented a gangrenous appearance, and had a putrid smell. The gangrenous portion was about the size of the palm of the hand and extended deeply into the substance of the lung. The left lung was also emphysematous along its anterior border, but to a less extent than the right ; it was greatly congested and oedematous. Weighed 30 oz. Case XL, J. M. flEt. 60—A shoemaker ; was admitted 1st September, 1874, in a state of maniacal excitement, possessing high delusions, e.g., that he had a barrel of gold lying in a house in Edinburgh, which he must go and claim immediately. Physically, he was pale and thin : was unable to stand on his limbs, and had apparently shooting pains in them. His stomach was very irritable—he vomited more or less after every meal, so
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