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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    there is still much tenderness on pressure ; pulse 120, full. To have the white saline mixture in the morning, until the bowels are moved. 2Qth Nov.—Has perspired freely during the night. Bowels moved several times. Stools dark-coloured at first, but they became more natural. The uterus more painful and swollen, and there is slight tympanitis. Great thirst; tongue furred. Pulse 128, sharp and resisting. Eighteen leeches were applied to the abdomen, and she had eight grains of calomel and four of antimonial powder. A linseed poultice to be continued after the leeches come off. 9 p.m.—Feels easier, and there is less tenderness on pressure. Tongue cleaning round the edge; pulse 132, weak. Bowels moved several times. The womb to be again washed out with tepid water. 21th Nov., 8 A.M.—Complaining of general soreness, but has no pain on pressure, although the womb is large and hard. Bowels moved several times ; tongue cleaner. Expression of countenance very anxious. To have the following draught:—R Mist, cretas, Jss.; tinct. catechu, 5j. M. Ft. haustus. This draught to be repeated after every stool. 2.30 p.m.—Dr Rigby ordered her to have a soda powder. 4 p.m.—Dr Lee saw her, and ordered her to have three grains of gray powder, with four of Dover’s powder, every four hours, in con¬ sequence of her having vomited a quantity of bilious matter. —Bowels moved twice, and she has again vomited a quantity of bilious matter, and she feels much exhausted; eyes sunk ; coun¬ tenance extremely anxious ; tongue loaded with white fur; pulse 130, weak. To have two grains of opium. 10.30 p.m.—No return of vomiting and purging, and feels easier than she has done since her illness. The uterus seems less, and is free from pain; but the abdomen more tympanitic. It was rubbed with lard and a poultice applied, with great comfort. The first point of her middle finger much swollen and inflamed, and the pain extends to the shoulder. To have laudanum applied. 28th Nov., morning visit.—States that she is quite comfortable, although very weak, and has much pain in the right arm, which is inflamed from the wrist to the elbow on the outside, and there are several dark spots on it. To have a lotion, composed of equal parts of camphorated spirit and ammonia, applied to it, and to take one of the following pills every hour-Ik Camphor, ext. hyoscyam., aa gr.viij.; opii, gr.iii. M. et divide in pil. iv. To have sago and wine. She sank rapidly, and died at 2 p.m. In place of such active treatment as was adopted in the above case, i recommend small doses of calomel and James’s powder in proportion of a twelfth of a grain each, along with a grain of white sugar, carefully compounded and given regularly every two hours until