Hydatid disease, Vol. II. By the late John Davis Thomas... A collection of papers on hydatid disease / edited and arranged by Alfred Austin Lendon.

  • Thomas, J. Davies (John Davies), 1844-1893.
Date:
1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hydatid disease, Vol. II. By the late John Davis Thomas... A collection of papers on hydatid disease / edited and arranged by Alfred Austin Lendon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    Speaking generally, renal cysts are situated deeper in the abdomen than hydatid cysts of the liver, and the colon is generally placed in front of renal cysts of moderate size. Renal cysts are less influenced in position by the movements of respiration than hydatids of the liver, or other liver enlargements; but, on the other hand, hydatids may be tied down by adhesions so as to move but little. The fluid contents of hydro-nephrotic cysts are generally altered urine, urea, and uric acid: earthy and alkaline urinary salts are present in it: albumen is nearly always found, and pus, blood, and colloid material may also be intermixed. Hydronephrotic cysts are sometimes lobulated, and occasionally a rapid diminution of bulk or even a total disappearance of the tumour occurs, accompanied by a copious discharge of urine : this sign, however, might be simulated by the rupture of a hydatid cyst of the kidney into the urinary passages. In hydronephrosis, as also in renal hydatid (vide p. 26), there might be a history of renal colic. 6. From Ovarian Cyst.—Ovarian cysts grow from below upwards, and are usually of distinctly pelvic origin ; hydatids of the liver, on the other hand, grow from above downwards, and only rarely enter the pelvis: an error of diagnosis is more apt to take place in the case of very large cysts than of smaller ones. That such a mistake may occur even to the most experienced is shown by the numerous cases which have been submitted to operation as supposed ovarian cysts, but which have proved to be echinococcus cysts. 7. From Phantom Tumour.—In one case, at least, a phantom tumour has been mistaken for a hydatid cyst :* the disappearance of the supposed tumour under the influence of a general anaesthetic would prevent any such mistake. 8. From Ascites.—In the majority of cases no difficulty can arise in the diagnosis between ascites and hydatid tumour j but in one case under my care the abdomen was enormously distended by a hydatid cyst which reached from the upper part of the abdomen and filled the pelvis ) it resembled a very large abdominal dropsy, where the distension is so great as to conceal the resonance of the intestines, and where so much fluid is present as to fully distend the belly.t The mesentery may be shortend by chronic inflammation, or the intestines may be * Murchison : op. cit, case VII., p. 61. t Australasian Medical Gazette, Vol IX , p. 72.