A dissertation, read before the Massachusetts Medical Society, on the importance and manner of detecting deep seated matter / by Nathaniel Miller.

  • Miller, Nathaniel, 1771-1850.
Date:
1827
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dissertation, read before the Massachusetts Medical Society, on the importance and manner of detecting deep seated matter / by Nathaniel Miller. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    symptoms. The limb swells, and the complaint is pronounced rheumatism. Upon this diagnosis the patient is treated with the usual remedies for in- flammatory rheumatism. A crisis is supposed to have taken place in three or four weeks, from the remission of general and local symptoms. The pain abates; the swelling is lessened ; the appetite improves; and the patient is thought to be in a convalescent state. At the expiration of three or four weeks more the swelling of the thigh is, perhaps, somewhat di- minished, and no pain exists unless an attempt is made to move the limb. Although the appetite of the patient is pretty good, there is a wasting of flesh, and he has a hectic countenance. His friends and the physician now have fearful apprehensions of a decline, and a consultation is called. This is not an wifrequent case in my practice. Upon general principles we might conclude that a solution had taken place. In this rather easy situation it had remained gradually undermining the health of the patient. When he is introduced to us, and the limb is presented for examination, the swelling is uniform, and the skin of a natural appearance. The exami- nation should be commenced by the touch, towards the extremity of the thigh; and by approximating the hands slowly, and feeling with some firmness, and frequently asking the patient if he feels any sore- ness. Proceed in the same manner, and advance