On idiopathic anaemia : a report of three cases, with remarks, and an analysis of the cases hitherto published in America / by J.H. Musser.

  • Musser, John Herr, 1856-1912.
Date:
1885
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On idiopathic anaemia : a report of three cases, with remarks, and an analysis of the cases hitherto published in America / by J.H. Musser. 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.

    7/36 (page 5)
    shocks which occurred five years prior to her death. Her husband, while under the influence of liquor, abused her frecjui ntly, and once was about to kill her but for fniely interference by friends. For many weeks afterwards she suffered the highest degree of mental excitement, so extreme at times, it was feared insanity would ensue. Thenceforth her health was poor, and gradually the aniumia developed. The course of the disease can, it appears, be divided into three stages or periods. The first period continued from the time of the shock until about one year previous to the time she came under my care, or Jan., 1881 ; the second period continued from Jan., 1881, until about Dec, 1881; she then became so ill as to be unable to leave her bed, and came under my observa- tion in Jan., 1882; this third period was of seven weeks duration, and terminated by Ler death, Jan. 19 of the latter year. The first period was marked by ill-defined poor health. She knew that she was losing ground, but could not tell how. She did not emaciate, but weakened. She lost her hair, and it changed from a brown color to an irou-gray. The symptoms of the second period were more defined. They were, change of color, of disposition, of strength, etc. The complexion— originally clear, with rosy cheeks—became sickly and dirty yellow. She became irritable, fretful and morose, contrasting with her previous good disposition. In the early part of this period, she had an attack of daily intermitting fever, with headache, lasting ten days. She lost her appetite ; or if present, it was quite capricious. In February and March (1881), attacks of vertigo, faintness and vomiting occurred twice or thrice daily; consciousness was never lost in them ; ■ they occurred after exertion. Failure in strength became more and more pronounced towards the close of the year; inaptitude for exertion, either mental or physical, and a growing heedlessness of friends and surroundings, became marked. From the first of this period, numbness and tingling, and an increased sense of weight in the limbs, were noticeable and distressing. The third period of the illness of our patient was marked by extreme exhaustion. On account of sheer prostration, of palpitation of the heart, and extreme dyspnoea on exertion, she was obliged to take her bed. In addition to the preceding history, the following notes of hei' condition were gathered during the three weeks of my attendance:— FJxiemul Appearances.—Hair soft, thin, iron-gray. Eyelashes and eyes brown; eyelids puffy ; conjunctiva pearl-white color; subconjunctival fet increased, especially in inner canthus, and quite icterode in hue—at first sight, considered to be due to bile pigment. Face not emaciated ; appeai- ance .strikingly ghastly and wild; color, dii-ty yellow or earthy. Lijjs pale. Appearance of extreme bloodlessness of face and hands. The latter not pigmented. Finger-nails grew rapidly, but were brittle, and had white spots on them. Skin warm and oily ; that of the hands wrinkled, and in the palms liard. Ankles and feet slightly cedematous. Body not emaci-