The influence of the discharges and nervous shock on the collapse of cholera : read before the Medical Society of London, Feb. 11, 1867 / by John Cockle.

  • Cockle, John, 1814-1901.
Date:
1867
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The influence of the discharges and nervous shock on the collapse of cholera : read before the Medical Society of London, Feb. 11, 1867 / by John Cockle. 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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    chemical endowments, all admit, however opposite the theory that each may hold. We may even proceed a step further and affirm such changes to be sequential, at least, that none, appreciable to sense, attend the onset of the dis- ease. Majendie, than whom none could have had a larger experience in cholera, inasmuch as he attended between five and six hundred cases, states “ I have seen on numerous occasions, in England, bleedings before the algide stage, at two or three hours interval; it was not possible to detect any difference between the blood drawn and that of a non- choleraic subject. * * * It is worthy of remark that the blood is not changed at the onset of the disease, but gradually, as it progresses, hence I infer that the alteration is the consequence and not the cause of the disease. Per- mit me further to quote the testimony of two very com- petent Indian observers. Scot writes “ It is established by the replies to this letter, as well as by an immense mass of concurrent evidence, that the blood is of an unnaturally dark colour and thick consistence. These appearances are very uniformly expressed by the terms dark, black, tarry, in regard to colour; and by thick, soapy, syrupy, semi- coagulated in respect to its consistence. The change in the condition of the blood is, likewise, fully proved to be in the ratio of the duration of the disease ; the blood at the commencement seeming to be quite natural, and, more or less rapidly assuming a morbid state as the disease ad- vances.” Searle also, states “ It is established by undoubted evidence, that the blood is of an unnaturally dark colour and thick consistence ; these changes in the condition of the blood are, likewise, fully proved to be in the ratio with the duration of the disease.” The examination of the residual blood shows, that, in all epidemics, the total amount is diminished. In some cases, doubtless conditioned on the extent and continuance of the drain, the quantity remaining is so small, that scarcely a pint can be collected free. This amount of varying con- sistence, is massed in the heart, lungs, pulmonary arteries and veins. The systemic arteries are generally empty,