A case of hemiplegia, associated with great hypertrophy of the heart, and terminating by rupture of the aorta, producing dissecting aneurism / [Sir James Risdon Bennett].

  • James Risdon Bennett
Date:
[1849]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A case of hemiplegia, associated with great hypertrophy of the heart, and terminating by rupture of the aorta, producing dissecting aneurism / [Sir James Risdon Bennett]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    4/12 page 158
    of the leg, and complains only of some numbness of the fingers. The tongue, which is strongly protruded to the right side, is slightly furred and coated. There is no draw¬ ing of the mouth when at rest, but, on directing him forcibly to retract the mouth, it is evident that he has less power on the right than on the left side. He has equal power of winking with both eyes. His appetite is good; the bowels rather sluggish. He complains of giddiness and uncomfort¬ able feeling in the head, but has no headache. On exertion he has a certain amount of dyspnoea, and occasionally a catching of the breath, of a spasmodic cha¬ racter. There is greatly increased impulse of the heart, with extended dulness on percussion over the cardiac region. A slight diastolic bruit is heard below, and a little to the right of the nipple, and there only. Pulse 84, rather full and vibrating. Throughout the chest generally the respi¬ ratory and percussion-sounds are natural. There is no oedema of the extremities, nor does the countenance indicate any obstruction to the pulmonary circulation* He was ordered a jalap and calomel purge to take im¬ mediately, and to be cupped over the cardiac region to 3viij; and afterwards a pill, containing blue pill and rhubarb, every night, and a mixture three times a day, consisting of equal parts of infusion of valerian and gentian, with a saline ape¬ rient. Milk diet. March 5th.—He has felt more comfortable since the cupping, having had less vertigo and less of the general sense of uneasiness about the head, which, however, he still says has not amounted to pain. His articulation is not improved; the tongue is still furred, and he has some thirst; bowels open. The last day or two he has had a good deal of palpitation, with a sense of anxiety about the praecordia. To omit the mixture, and take two grains of pil. hydrarg. with three of Dover's powder, night and morning. March 8th.—His mouth is slightly affected by the mercury, and he complains much of palpitation of the heart. The urine, which is abundant, was tested for albumen, but none detected.
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3