A case of ruptured uterus, and a part of the foetus extracted through the parietes of the abdomen / by J.H. Brock ; communicated through George Pearson.

  • Brock, J.H.
Date:
[between 1810 and 1819]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A case of ruptured uterus, and a part of the foetus extracted through the parietes of the abdomen / by J.H. Brock ; communicated through George Pearson. 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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    Brock eM a Case of Ruptured Uterus. I coiild also feel sometliing floeculeiit, like the thin edge of tlw placenta within the oi’ilice of the uterus; but Iroin llie heat, dryness, and extreme sensibility of the vagina, I did not think it prudent to use any more force by tlie introduction of my hand, to make a more particular examination, having some doubts of the muKvife’s accuracy. The pulse was very small and quick. The abdomen was much distended and very sore; so much so, as scarcely to bear the pressure of the sheet. Tongue w hitish; bowels very open ; skin hot and dry; sto- mach eiLsv ; no discharge per vaginam. Being at a loss whal to make of the case, and having been frequently deceived by the information I have been able to obtain from black midwives, I was inclined to think, that on this occasion the ^yoman had been tleceived. I therefore ordered a warm purgative mixture to be given, and after the operation of it, an antimonial opiate to be administered at bed-time. August 9th. The tension of the abdomen remains the same, Pulse 100; the skin hot and dry. The medicine has operated well. She is very restless and* has had very little sleep; was ordered to take antimonials with the .saline julep. 10th, llth, and 12th. The symptoms continuing the same, she was desired to continue her medicines. 13th. The fulness, tension, and soreness of the abdomen liaving much subsided, on pressure I could distinctly feel what I conceived to be the limbs of a child. It was not till then that I could make out the case; when I was satisfied the uterus had been ruptured, and that the foetus had escaped into the ab<lomen. I requested Mr. Moses Bravo and Mr. Garcia to visit the patient with me, and they entertained the same opinion as myself. From the length of time after tlie accident, and the great heat and soreness of the vagina, I did not think it pru- dent to atteni])t to jjass iny hand into it, for tlie purpose of as- certaining whether the uterus was empty or not; but proposed an operation for the extraction of the fetus through the parietes of tlie alidomcn, which however was not consented to. 14th. Whilst the patient was on the close-stool, the pla- centa slipped away from her without any pain, in a hi^ly putrid state. I now^ attempted to introduce my hand into the vagina, but the patient could not allow me to use the least force. 15th. She complains of a cutting pain about the navel, and a soreness of the whole abdomen ; so much .so, as to scarcely bear it to l>e touched. 16th. The bead of the child can be distinctly felt through the umbilical ring. 17tb, 18tb, and 19tb. All the.symptoms continued the same. 20tli. The tendemes.s of the vagina liaving much abated, I pas-sed two fingers into it, ainl got hold of the toes of one foot.