Case of measles associated with hæmorrhagic variola / by Charles H. Robinson.

  • Robinson, Charles H.
Date:
[1872]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Case of measles associated with hæmorrhagic variola / by Charles H. Robinson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    i chest it left a white impression, which lasted about six seconds after the hand had been removed. -The characteristic smell of small-pox was also present. Such is the clinical history of this case, and I have thought it advisable to be thus minute in detailing every symptom and occurrence in this very interesting case, in order that proper deductions should be drawn as regards the diagnosis. The occur¬ rence of measles with variola is very uncommon, but, according to Cazenave, may co-exist in the same individual, the progress of one of the eruptions, under such circumstances, being generally arrested by that of the other. I should observe that this patient stated that he had an attack of measles before, and also variola (as well as I can remember he was marked slightly on the forehead from the latter), but had never been vaccinated. That he had the measles before is not of much importance, for although rare, yet an individual may be affected twice with this eruption. I may confess that but for a couple of symptoms to which I shall advert hereafter, I should have called this case one of malig¬ nant measles; and in order to show that the symptoms above described were in accordance with those mentioned by authors on this disease, I shall give a few extracts from medical writers of repute as justifying this view. Dr. Churchill, of this city, in his well-known work on Diseases of Children, p. 640, states that in the typhoid or malignant form of measles the pulse is quick, the skin dry and burning, and that petechiae may be observed on different parts of the body. Dr. Gregory thus alludes to this variety:—“The stomach is irritable, vomiting is both severe and protracted; there is delirium with wildness of eye.On the surface appear petechiae or ecchymosed patches of eruption; blood passes by stool, &c.” Hebraa also describes this form of measles as follows:—“ There is some depression from the very commencement of the disease. The fever is continuous, and increases day by day. The pulse is at first hard, but soon becomes compressible, and the artery has then an empty feel. The skin is sometimes hot and dry, or covered with perspiration, and there is intense thirst. The patient is sometimes drowsy, sometimes delirious. The tongue is dry, and covered with a white fur; the lips also are dry, and are often loaded with black sordes.” a Diseases of the Skin, Yol. i., p. 174.