Case of acute foetid empyema, treated by incision into pleural cavity, with copious ablution : rapid recovery / by George Buchanan.

  • Buchanan, George, 1827-1906.
Date:
1883
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Case of acute foetid empyema, treated by incision into pleural cavity, with copious ablution : rapid recovery / by George Buchanan. 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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    Reprinted from the Glasgow Medical Journal”/or Februarjf, ISSS.] /Qs',- - CASE OF ACUTE FffiTID._EMEYEMA,^ .PATED INCISION INTO PLEUKAL CAVITY, wl ABLUTION; KAPID KECOVEKY. By GEORGE BUCHAJ^AIL-- Professor of Clinical Surgery indSleTJnrv^rsity of Glasgow. The following case presents many points of, ,interest—medical,, pathological, and surgical—but as the latt^' aspect seems the most striking, I have been asked to act as reporter. 'The patient was under the care of Dr. Whitson, but as she was a family connection of his, he from the outset asked Dr. Maclaren to direct the medical treatment. The case proving very serious. Professor Gairdner was asked to co-operate as consultant, so that all the features, some of which are very unusual, if not unique, can be vouched for by competent observers. Miss D., aged 19, enjoyed good health till the 24th Septem- ber last, when she began to suffer from pains in the left side of the chest. On the 28th the symptoms became more severe. She had pains over the left mammary region, increased on takino- a deep respiration, and on applying the stethoscope over the painful part a friction sound could be heard. There was dulness over the left lung behind, and diminished respiratory murmur. She had a short cough, but no expectoration, and she lay on her back well suppoi;ted with pillows, as the pain was worse when she attempted to lie on her left side. Her tem- perature rose to about 101° and her pulse to 130. The tfeatment at this stage consisted in moving her bowels well, keeping poultices constantly applied to the painful part, and givin? her a diuretic mixture containing iodide of potassium The symptoms became gradually more severe. Effusion into the left pleura was evidenced by dulness on percussion over the whole posterior region, and anteriorly as high as the third rib ' and by displacement of the heart to the right of its normal situation. Her respiration rose to 36 per min. and her pulse to about 140. On 3rd October Dr. Gairdner saw her for the one, but had hopes that in a short time the acute symptoms