A new mode of treating puerperal fever / by Charles Bell.

  • Bell, Charles.
Date:
[1872]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A new mode of treating puerperal fever / by Charles Bell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    3 have also been instances of puerperal-fever patients producing erysipelas in their nurses. I have also observed both diseases existing at the same time in the same individual. I was therefore induced, many years ago, to suggest that the treatment which I had found so beneficial in erysipelas should be adopted in puerperal fever. I had no opportunity, however, of putting it in practice until a comparatively recent period, when I employed it in the only case which came under my care in the Maternity Hospital, and although the case was very severe, and the patient’s life was despaired of, it proved successful, and the woman left the hospital in health. 1 have already reported this case to the Society. The success which attended this case led me to adopt it in another case which I was requested to see by Professor Simpson, which was considered hopeless, yet the patient left the hospital in perfect health. Through the kindness of Dr Young, I had an opportunity of employing the treatment in a patient of his, whom 1 attended in a premature labour. She was seized with puerperal fever soon after her confinement, and I despaired of her recovery, but she was ultimately restored to health, I understand, for I ceased my attend¬ ance before she was quite recovered. The treatment of puerperal fever in former days was of the heroic kind, as the following case illustrates, and I relate it in order to show the contrast to what I recommend. 22d Nov.—Mrs S., aged thirty-four, a thin delicate-looking woman, with a sallow complexion, was delivered of her third child, a girl, after natural and apparently easy labour. The placenta was expelled immediately after the child. The womb continued large, although there was no hsemorrhage. 24th Nov.—Apparently going on satisfactorily, and she felt so well that she sat up in bed for some time in the morning, but at 1 P.M. she was seized with rigors, followed by a glow of heat, soon after which violent pain in the region of the uterus, which was still large, A linseed poultice was applied to the abdomen, and she had the following powder: calomel gr.ii., and antimonial powder gr.v., in gruel. 8 p.M.—Bowels moved twice; pain in the womb so severe that she could not bear the slightest pressure ; pulse 120, full and strong; tongue white and flabby. She was bled to §xvi., when she be¬ came sick, and vomited some undigested food. The stomach was so irritable that she got no medicine. 26th Nov., 8 A.M.—-Has had some sleep, but is still in great pain in the lower part of the abdomen ; pulse 120, weak. To have two dozen of leeches, and then the following powder:—1\ Ilydrarg. cum creta, gr.iv.; pul. Doveri, gr.x. 2 p.m.—Dr Rigby ordered the womb to be washed out with tepid water, and that she should have six grains of calomel and four of antimonial powder.