Case of Hon. Charles Sumner / by Marshall S. Perry.

  • Perry, Marshall S. (Marshall Sears), -1859.
Date:
[1856?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Case of Hon. Charles Sumner / by Marshall S. Perry. 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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    closed over with collodion by Dr. Boyle. Mr. S. had suffered so much during the last ten hours, that he had become very much exhausted. He was put under the influence of opium ; the wound was poulticed, and perfect rest enjoined. For three days he was in a critical situation. The local inflammation, the danger of poison from the absorption of pus, and the extreme nervous ex- haustion, made it a formidable case. At the end, however, of this time, he appeared to be out of immediate danger. The wound on the left side of the head healed by first intention. It was several weeks before that on the right side closed over. During this time he was very weak, had some fever, especially when excited, and was confined mostly to his bed. He did not at that time complain of much pain in his head, but as the wound healed after several weeks, he had neuralgic pain in the back of the head, coming on in paroxysms. As these passed away, he had a feeling of oppressive weight or pressure of the brain, which was increased when excited or engaged in conversation. He described it as a 5C-pounds weight upon his head. At the same time he lost flesh and strength, his appetite was irregular, and his nights wakeful—sometimes lying awake all night, or when sleeping, dis- turbed. He had also increased sensibility of the spinal cord, and a sense of weakness in the small of the back. These were developed by walking, and every step he took seemed to produce a shock upon the brain. His walk was irregular and uncertain, and after slight efforts he would lose almost entire control of the lower extremities. In this condition he was advised by Dr. Lindsly, of Washington, to remove from that place to some more quiet spot. He accordingly came to Philadelphia, and there called upon Dr. Wister for advice. Mountain air and complete seclusion were recommended ; but Mr. Sumner undertook first to try the sea air, and went to Cape May. Here he was very weak, so that he was unable to bathe, and he finally left without any sensible improvement. On the recommen- dation of Dr. Wister, he went to Cresson, in the Alleghany Moun- tains. While there he was in the family of Dr. R. M. Jackson, and under his medical direction.