On the coagulation of the blood in the venous system during life : (a thesis for a medical act in the University of Cambridge) / by George Murray Humphry.

  • Humphry, George Murray, Sir, 1820-1896.
Date:
1859
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the coagulation of the blood in the venous system during life : (a thesis for a medical act in the University of Cambridge) / by George Murray Humphry. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    Case II. An exceedingly fat woman, aged 54, had been confined to her room three weeks by a sore leg, and in the last few days had suffered three attacks of dyspnoea and faintness, for which ammonia had been given by her medical attendant. One of these occurred on the 21st of the month, and she felt very ill all that day. On the 22nd she was better. On the 23rd, being in a neighbouring house, I was summoned to her in consequence of a sudden seizure, and was in time only to see her die. There were a few inspira- tions, but 1 could not feel the pulse. When first attacked, a few minutes before her death, she was quite sensible, and said, It's of no use; I'm dying. The main branches of the pulmonary artery, on both sides, were distended with firm, dark, mottled clots, which extended into the second and third divisions of the artery. The interior of the vessel was dis- coloured, but for the most part it preserved its polish. In a few places, where the clots were slightly adherent, it had lost somewhat of its natural smoothness. In other respects it was quite healthy. The substance of the lungs was natural. The walls of the heart were flabby and thin; but the muscular structure and the valves were healthy. The right auricle and ventricle were distended with clots which were large, firm, and fibrinous in their upper parts. Case III. A girl, aged about 18, had been in service in the town, in a hard place, under a hard mistress, had been ailing for several days, had one or two fainting fits, and in the last few days, had suffered from shortness of breath, and other symptoms which excited suspicion of inflammation of the lungs. When she was admitted into the hospital she had an ansemic appearance, her breathing was quick and hurried, and her manner was suggestive of hysteria, rather than real disease, to the gentleman who then saw her. Next day a faint abnormal sound was thought to be audible about the base of the heart; ten minims of tincture of digitalis were prescribed. At six o'clock that day, just after the bowels