ps
thirty or forty at another, from just beneath the skin and superficial
fascia of the lower part of the back. The second point of interest would
be to know from what vessel this hemorrhage took place. The third
interesting feature of the case is its progress and treatment.
At the time of the aspiration the patient was in a critical condition;
temp. 105.4, pulse 120; the tongue and chill denoting danger of pyemia.
This danger was avoided by drawing off the decomposing blood, and giving
the patient a new lease of life. This was but temporary, for six days
afterward the same danger presented itself again. This was also avoided by
opening the sinus freely, by an incision two inches long, which could not
have been done sooner for fear of adding to the hemorrhage.
At the end of six days from this last critical period, the temperature
again went up to 103.5, and the pulse and condition of the patient
indicated great danger of death from exhaustion--the result of the
formation of so much pus. This was avoided by preventing the excessive
formation of pus by washing out the sinus with liquid vasaline. The
patient is still under treatment in the hospital now under the care of
my esteemed friend, Dr. Benj. Cory.
The patient will probably recover. It will be simply a question of
endurance with him. That is, if the supply of nourishment can be kept up,
and the waste prevented, which must result from the formation of such a
large quantity of pus, there is no reason why he should not recover.[A]
[A] On March 25th, date of publication of this report, the
patient is considered convalescent.
At the time of putting him under the care of Dr. Cory, he was taking nine
grains of quinia daily, about six ounces of whisky, beef tea twice a day,
and eggs twice, with such other food as he might relish; taking four meals
a day.
Thus you see I was carrying out the theory mentioned in the first part of
this paper:--that of supplying the system with all the flesh producing
food the stomach would digest, and using whisky and quinia to prevent
disassimilation or waste; also vasaline locally for a similar reason.
With this case I conclude my report; only adding that perhaps the thought
of a poet, who evidently knows much of human nature, is applicable to this
hastily written paper. This poet says:
"A fool will pass for such through one mistake,
While a philosopher will pass for such,
Through said mistakes being vent
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