The American eclectic practice of medicine (Volume 1).

  • Jones, I. G. (Ichabod Gibson), 1807-1857.
Date:
1853-54
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The American eclectic practice of medicine (Volume 1). 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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    There is, however, one organ upon which the influence of inter- mittent fever seems to fall with peculiar force: that is, the spleen. This is considered a settled fact. The existence of ague cake, or enlargement of the spleen, is frequent in all classes of society. You rarely meet with an individual who has had a protracted attack of this disease, who has not more or less engorgement of the spleen; and this pathological result may be put down as a general rule. In some cases the enlargement is slight, while in others it is almost incredibly great. I have seen a case where it occupied the whole anterior portion of the abdomen, passing under the short ribs and liver. Then, again, I have seen cases where it entirely changed its position. I remember one case, in partic- ular, where I found the spleen had slipped over into the right side, the patient himself being aware of the fact, and calling my attention to it. I had no difficulty in bringing it back to the proper locality, by placing the patient in a suitable position, apply- ing a bandage around the body, and sustaining the parietes of the abdomen by a large strip of adhesive plaster, until, by proper treatment, the spleen was reduced to its natural size, and perma- nently retained. Another most remarkable instance of the effect of this disease on the spleen, I will venture to relate. This was the case of a young lady whom I was called to see. The spleen had become enlarged, dislocated, and had fallen into the left groin, where it inflamed, suppurated, and was entirely discharged. When I opened the tumor, matter precisely the color of the spleen, and even some shreds of that organ, only partially decomposed, were discharged. This occurred about eight years ago, and but a short time since, I saw the young lady in Columbus, in as perfect and robust health as any one with a spleen. You may doubt the truth of this history, gentlemen, or at least that the spleen was really discharged in this manner, but all the attendant symptoms, together with the peculiar matter discharged, rendered it clear and unquestionable to my mind that such was the fact, and I would stake my reputation upon the position that a post mortem examination would demonstrate it. And if the young lady should die, and I have the opportunity, I shall prove the truth of what I have related.