Report of clinical cases treated during the session 1859-60 in the surgical wards of the Royal Infirmary under the care of James Spence.

Date:: 1861

Credit: Report of clinical cases treated during the session 1859-60 in the surgical wards of the Royal Infirmary under the care of James Spence. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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$Section Second.—Fractures. Subjoined is a tabular view of the cases of fracture (in all 47) treated in the house, stating the seat of fracture and the result. The more important cases are shortly detailed:— Cured. Died. 3 ... ... 2 1 5 4 1 2 ... ... 2 10.—Three through shaft, cured. In one case, refracture im- mediately above the former fracture, on third day after dismissal. One through trochanter, cured. Three through neck, relieved; andone through condyles into knee, cured. Of Leg, 21 Simple fracture of tibia and fibula, 7 Compound do. do., . . . 5 Comminuted do. do., . . .1 Tibia, alone, . . . .4 Fibula, 4 Of Humerus, 4 Simple, but complicated with general bruising,—1 cured. Comminuted,—1 cured. Ununited,—1 under treatment and 1 cured. Of Radius and Ulna,—1 compound and comminuted; cured. Of Upper Jaw,—1 comminuted; cured. Of Lower Jaw,—1 simple; cured. 1. Patrick B s, cet. 40, was doubled up and crushed by the weight of a horse falling on him, by which several dorsal vertebrae were fractured. Along with complete paraplegia, a low form of peritonitis set in, and he died on the fourth day. 2. John S s, set. 2(1, a strong, muscular man, fell back- wards over a rail seven feet high. Complete insensibility im- mediately followed the accident; but on admission, an hour after- wards, consciousness was partially restored, with, however, all the symptoms of paraplegia, and involuntary emission of semen, urine, and faeces. A fracture was discovered at the sixth cervical vertebra. The head and neck were bandaged to a pillow, and the patient placed in bed. He gradually recovered the power of voluntary movement, and sensation was complete. On the twenty-fifth day he went out, and, two weeks after, resumed his employment as a brewer. 3. Peter Iv r, oat. 38, during the delirium accompanying erysi- pelas of the head, jumped from the third storey of a house, whereby lie sustained a fracture about the middle of the dorsal vertebrae. For the first ten days he had all the symptoms of paraplegia, requiring the constant use of the catheter. Urine phosphatie. Ordered Nitric Acid. As the bowels continued constipated, Ext. Nuc. Vomic., gr. 1, with Ext. Coloc., was administered thrice a-day. On the sixteenth day he passed his water without the use of an instrument. After this, his appetite and strength gradually improved, and he only Under Cured. Treatment Died. 7 2 12 1 4 4 Of Vertebrae, Of Ribs, Of Pelvis, Of Femur,$