On transfusion of blood and saline fluids / by Chas. Egerton Jennings.

  • Jennings, Charles Egerton.
Date:
1883
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On transfusion of blood and saline fluids / by Chas. Egerton Jennings. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    48/108 (page 32)
    coagulum, evidently the result of the primary haemor- rhage. There was then no haemorrhage, and the uterus was well contracted ; but, taking into account the exhausted state of the patient, and the probability that any amount of post-partum haemorrhage would prove fatal, he thought it advisable to inject the uterus with a solution of perchloride of iron as a measure of precaution. No sooner was the iron in- jected than the patient began to complain of severe pain in the hypogastrium. She died seven or eight hours afterwards. It is most important to recollect that during preg- nancy the coagulative property of the blood is great, on account of an increase in its fibrin-forming con- stituents. A plethoric state also obtains in pregnancy, so that a considerable loss of blood may occur during parturition, without such loss being gravely felt. There is, too, always a natural tendency for haemorrhage to cease, since the percentage of fibrin rapidly increases during bleeding. Owing to these fortunate circumstances, therefore, coagula of strength sufficient to resist further loss of blood are usually formed; and it is scarcely necessary to add that safety is secured by a permanent contraction of the uterus. These facts are not adduced to encourage a negligent management of the third stage of labour, but to illustrate the fallacy of undue resort to very active treatment. If, however, after delivery, the uterus relax, and profuse haemorrhage occur, persisting after a fair