The practice of medicine and surgery : applied to the diseases and accidents incident to women / by W.H. Byford and Henry T. Byford.

  • Byford, W. H. (William Heath), 1817-1890.
Date:
1888
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The practice of medicine and surgery : applied to the diseases and accidents incident to women / by W.H. Byford and Henry T. Byford. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    658/852 (page 646)
    Morris's patient discontinued treatment because of the terrible and tumultuous effects upon the uterus. Dr. E. P. Allen, of Athens, Pennsylvania, sends me the report of a very interesting case of fibrous tumor treated by hypodermic injec- tions of ergot, in which phlebitis supervened. A condition of one limb was produced precisely similar to phlegmasia alba dolens, and ran its protracted course to a favorable termination. Prior to the accident the tumor had very much decreased in size, but, after the treatment was suspended, and during the course of the phlegmasia, it rapidly increased again, and the hemorrhages which had been con- trolled returned. After trying other methods of treatment without any good results, he and his patient in despair were driven to the use of ergot again. It was tried internally with some good effects, but as the remedy thus administered disagreed with the stomach, it was again injected hypodermically with rapid improvement. The injections were used on the side of the abdomen, opposite to that formerly affected with phlebitis. After a number of injections, signs of in- flammation of the veins were again observed, and the sound leg passed through all the stages of phlegmasia that had been observed in the first. From the intelligent observation of Dr. Wey and others, we may fairly conclude that it is not improper to continue the use of ergot during the menstrual flow. I can also add my testimony as to its entire harmlessness when given during that periodical flow. Auxiliary Treatment. With the exception of Drs. Goodrich and Howard, all the writers and correspondents quoted have depended exclusively on ergot for the removal of fibrous tumors of the uterus; in fact, the treatment has been experimental, and had for its object the solution of the question suggested by the publication of Hilclebrandt's articles on the use of ergot, viz.: Will ergot cure fibrous tumors of the uterus? The course pursued was well calculated to, and I think did, test Hilclebrandt's treatment pretty thoroughly, but it is doubtful whether this exclusive- ness is the best practice. The well-known alterative and sorbefaeient medicines have, in rare instances, been credited with the cure of these tumors without the aid of ergot, and it is not difficult to understand that absorption may be promoted with more certainty by the alkaline bromides and iodides, where the vitality of the tumor is first impaired by the action of ergot on its vessels and the muscular fibres surround- ing it. Dr. Goodrich seems to have held this view of the alterative treatment, as he prescribed iodide of potassium and bichloride of mercury with ergot. Dr. Howard also employed alteratives in the same way. Both of these gentlemen combined belladonna with ergot. The efficiency of this combination, as represented by their reports, justifies us in believing that the alteratives employed by them