Remarks on irritative fever, commonly called the Plymouth dock-yard disease; with Mr. Dryden's detailed account of the fatal cases, including that of the lamented surgeon, Dr. [James] Bell / [John Butter].

  • Butter, John, 1791-1877.
Date:
1825
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks on irritative fever, commonly called the Plymouth dock-yard disease; with Mr. Dryden's detailed account of the fatal cases, including that of the lamented surgeon, Dr. [James] Bell / [John Butter]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    last phalanges of these fingers in February 1824—an accident accompanied by the loss of both nails—should not have been followed by any unusual disturbance of the constitution. This accident then confined him six weeks from his Dock-yard duties ; but he preserved the free use of his fingers afterwards—the nails alone remaining infirm and deformed. A comparison of these two accidents* viz. the one in February, and the other in August, shews that the constitution will become dis¬ turbed at one time by a slight provocation, and that it will remain tranquil at another, under a heavier grievance. A report having been raised respecting the injurious nature of Teak wood, I asked But¬ ters if he had used any of it, and he replied in the negative, saying, that he had seldom for a long time worked upon it. On being asked if he could account for the cause of his disorder, he replied that the heat of the weather, which, at the time, was very oppressive, made him feel both restless and feverish at night. Patients may be allowed to form some opinion of the treatment practised on them. Butters says that he did not find any relief from venesection; that the leeches diminished his head-ache considerably; but that the incision into his hand produced the most de-