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276 An inspection of the bladder was obtained. The mucous membrane was very dark, and ulcerated points in many parts were ob- served. The fundus was almost in a state of sphacelus. I did not think this patient in a condition suitable for the operation, but he was so importunate to have it done, that I was obliged to agree. At the time of the operation, there can be no doubt, I think, but there was ulceration of the blad- der, although I confess I was not then aware of it, else 1 would not have operated. There was a considerable thick white deposit in the urine, but I did not think it purulent. The calculus appeared to consist principally of the triple phosphate, and had been ra- pidly formed; but the mucous membrane of the bladder, previous to its formation, had been seriously affected with chronic inflam. mation. EXCURVATION OF THE SPINE, WITH COMPLETE PAPALYSIS OF THE LOWER EXTREMITIES. Anne Farquhar, act. 23, was admitted in September, 1838, with excurvation of the spine, high up between the scapulse. The ribs have fallen in very much on each side. She has had pain in her back for three years, and complete paralysis, for three months, of the lower extremities. The nerves of sen. sation in the limbs are not affected; there is no febrile disturbance ; appetite is good, and the functions of the alimentary canal are carried on in a tolerably healthy manner. There is no tenderness in any portion of the spinal column, and the curvature appears to be occasioned more by softening of the bones than by any other cause. Immediately on admission she was seized with retention of urine, and required the catheter for two days. She is ordered to be placed daily on her back, on a firm mattress, in bed, and to have the spine put upon the stretch as long as she can bear it. The mode of proceed- ing is as follows :-A soft girth is put round the body under the axillae, and fixed to the frame of the bed ; another is put round the pelvis, to which pulleys are attached, and a considerable extension is then kept up. The spine is to be powerfully rubbed with cam- phorated oil, night and morning; and she is to take strychnine in the following for- mula :- R Diluted acetic acid, 3ij ; Strychnine, grs. ij. Jan. 16, 1839. The extension has been used almost daily since her admission; at first she could bear it only half an hour, and now about an hour and a half to two hours. She has taken of the solution of strychnine, in acetic acid, from six to twelve drops three times a-day; it was occasionally otnit- ted when it produced head-ache; the fric- tions have been constantly attended to ; she has now some use of her limbs, and can ’, walk a few steps holding on by any object; she has a good deal of muscular startings in her limbs. Let the extension be continued, aud also the frictions. Omit the solution of strychnine. To have Tincture of lytta, xv drops, three times a-day, and increase the doses until dysury is felt. Jnly 15. The extension has been regu. larly gone on with; the ribs are certainly more prominent, and the excurvation consi. derably less; she has continued the tincture of lytta, and taken as much as sixty drops from an ounce phial three times a-day; it occasionally produces dysuria, and then it is omitted for a time; she can walk a little without assistance. Continue the me. dicines. Aug. 31. She has now complete control over her lower extremities, and can walk a mile without a feeling of fatigue ; she is to remain for a short time yet in the hospital, and then to be discharged, with directions to wear steel stays. The result of this case is most satisfac. tory. Of the benefit derived from the exten. sioa there cannot be a doubt; the excurva. tion becoming less, and the ribs more pro. minent, are effects to be ascribed solely to its agency. In paralytic affections, when sti. mulants are indicated, I believe the tincture of cantharides acts more powerfully than the strychnine, and it appeared to do so in this instance. VASCULAR TUMOUR ON THE PARIETES OF THE ABDOMEN, Christina Forbes, a widow, ast. 41, was admitted September 1, 1838, with a tumour on the left side of the abdomen, between the umbilicus and the crista of the ilium, which she thinks took its rise from a blow received there eight months before. It is now about four inches in length, and two in breadth, with a large base. It is not very moveable, but is not sunk into the muscles. There is a considerable ulcer at one poiut, from which there have been occasionally profuse bleedings, and the discharge at all times is bloody. The skin over the upper part of it is of a dark venous hue; it is unattended with pain. As the patient was unwilling to submit to excision, the chloride of zinc was applied to a portion of it in the form of a paste, with an equal quantity of flour, and, although the pain which it caused was se. vere, was retained for twelve hours. In a few days a slough of considerable depth was thrown off. She was ordered comp. decoc. of sarsaparilla, with liquor of potass, and four grains of Plummer’s pill, every night. The chloride of zinc paste to be applied from time to time. Dec. 2. The escharotic has been applied eleven times, and always followed by the separation of large sloughs. At the time of

EXCURVATION OF THE SPINE, WITH COMPLETE PAPALYSIS OF THE LOWER EXTREMITIES

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276

An inspection of the bladder was obtained.The mucous membrane was very dark, andulcerated points in many parts were ob-served. The fundus was almost in a state

of sphacelus. I did not think this patientin a condition suitable for the operation,but he was so importunate to have it done,that I was obliged to agree. At the time ofthe operation, there can be no doubt, Ithink, but there was ulceration of the blad-der, although I confess I was not then awareof it, else 1 would not have operated. Therewas a considerable thick white deposit inthe urine, but I did not think it purulent.The calculus appeared to consist principallyof the triple phosphate, and had been ra-pidly formed; but the mucous membrane ofthe bladder, previous to its formation, hadbeen seriously affected with chronic inflam.mation.

EXCURVATION OF THE SPINE,WITH COMPLETE PAPALYSISOF THE LOWER EXTREMITIES.

Anne Farquhar, act. 23, was admitted inSeptember, 1838, with excurvation of thespine, high up between the scapulse. Theribs have fallen in very much on each side.She has had pain in her back for three years,and complete paralysis, for three months, ofthe lower extremities. The nerves of sen.sation in the limbs are not affected; there isno febrile disturbance ; appetite is good,and the functions of the alimentary canalare carried on in a tolerably healthy manner.There is no tenderness in any portion of thespinal column, and the curvature appears tobe occasioned more by softening of the bonesthan by any other cause. Immediately onadmission she was seized with retentionof urine, and required the catheter for twodays. She is ordered to be placed daily onher back, on a firm mattress, in bed, and tohave the spine put upon the stretch as longas she can bear it. The mode of proceed-ing is as follows :-A soft girth is put roundthe body under the axillae, and fixed to theframe of the bed ; another is put round thepelvis, to which pulleys are attached, and aconsiderable extension is then kept up. Thespine is to be powerfully rubbed with cam-phorated oil, night and morning; and she isto take strychnine in the following for-mula :-

R Diluted acetic acid, 3ij ;Strychnine, grs. ij.

Jan. 16, 1839. The extension has beenused almost daily since her admission; atfirst she could bear it only half an hour, andnow about an hour and a half to two hours.She has taken of the solution of strychnine,in acetic acid, from six to twelve dropsthree times a-day; it was occasionally otnit-ted when it produced head-ache; the fric-tions have been constantly attended to ; shehas now some use of her limbs, and can ’,

walk a few steps holding on by any object;she has a good deal of muscular startings inher limbs. Let the extension be continued,aud also the frictions. Omit the solution ofstrychnine. To have

Tincture of lytta, xv drops, three timesa-day, and increase the doses untildysury is felt.

’ Jnly 15. The extension has been regu.larly gone on with; the ribs are certainlymore prominent, and the excurvation consi.derably less; she has continued the tinctureof lytta, and taken as much as sixty dropsfrom an ounce phial three times a-day; itoccasionally produces dysuria, and then itis omitted for a time; she can walk a littlewithout assistance. Continue the me.

dicines.Aug. 31. She has now complete control

over her lower extremities, and can walk amile without a feeling of fatigue ; she is toremain for a short time yet in the hospital,and then to be discharged, with directionsto wear steel stays.The result of this case is most satisfac.

tory. Of the benefit derived from the exten.sioa there cannot be a doubt; the excurva.tion becoming less, and the ribs more pro.minent, are effects to be ascribed solely toits agency. In paralytic affections, when sti.mulants are indicated, I believe the tinctureof cantharides acts more powerfully thanthe strychnine, and it appeared to do so inthis instance.

VASCULAR TUMOUR ONTHE PARIETES OF THE ABDOMEN,

Christina Forbes, a widow, ast. 41, wasadmitted September 1, 1838, with a tumouron the left side of the abdomen, between theumbilicus and the crista of the ilium, whichshe thinks took its rise from a blow receivedthere eight months before. It is now aboutfour inches in length, and two in breadth,with a large base. It is not very moveable,but is not sunk into the muscles. There isa considerable ulcer at one poiut, fromwhich there have been occasionally profusebleedings, and the discharge at all times isbloody. The skin over the upper part of itis of a dark venous hue; it is unattendedwith pain. As the patient was unwilling tosubmit to excision, the chloride of zinc wasapplied to a portion of it in the form of apaste, with an equal quantity of flour, and,although the pain which it caused was se.vere, was retained for twelve hours. In afew days a slough of considerable depth wasthrown off. She was ordered comp. decoc.of sarsaparilla, with liquor of potass, andfour grains of Plummer’s pill, every night.The chloride of zinc paste to be appliedfrom time to time.Dec. 2. The escharotic has been applied

eleven times, and always followed by theseparation of large sloughs. At the time of