Case of communication with the stomach, through the abdominal parieties, produced by ulceration from external pressure : with observations on the cases of gasto-cutaneous fistulæ already recorded / by Charles Murchison.

  • Murchison, Charles, 1830-1879
Date:
1858
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Case of communication with the stomach, through the abdominal parieties, produced by ulceration from external pressure : with observations on the cases of gasto-cutaneous fistulæ already recorded / by Charles Murchison. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    out by a fruitless attendance, her medical advisers readily acquiesced in a proposal, emanating from herself, that the limb should be amputated at the shoulder-joint; and Dr. Keith was requested to see the case, with a view to her removal to the hospital. He pointed at once to the abrupt termination of the swelling at the insertion of the deltoid muscle, as demonstrative of an artificial enlargement; but as it would scarcely have been credited that the patient could, for two whole years, have kept up such a deception in the very midst of her family, no suspicion was betrayed in their presence, and she was admitted into a small ward of the Aberdeen Infirmary, on the 25th of August, 1846, the entry of her disease made in the Case Book being “ Feigned elephantiasis.” Being in the hospital at seven next morning, Dr. Keith walked suddenly into her ward, and found her hurriedly concealing a garter under her pillow. The fact of her having been in bed for two years, with no stockings on all that time, left no room to doubt that the garter had been tightly applied, at the insertion of the deltoid, on her left arm, by her teeth and right hand; and, accordingly, on exposing the arm, there was the deep sulcus, marked by the very ribbing of the worsted band. Dr. Keith gave her one chance, and promised not to expose the cheat, provided she would now consent to be cured : but in vain. She found means to strangulate the arm every night; so that, after a trial of three days, both her hands and arms were restrained in the sleeves of a strait waistcoat. After this, the cure advanced with great rapidity, and in five days the skin hung quite loosely upon the arm. The waistcoat was not removed for three weeks; indeed, not until her own entreaties, coupled with a promise of better behaviour, gave hope that she was wearied of deceit. On the 26th of October, 1846, after sixty-two days* treatment, she was dismissed cured; both arms being much alike ; her spirits good; her mind active and intelligent; and she herself professing great gratitude for what she was pleased to desig¬ nate “ the wonderful cure \” For two years after this she continued well, keeping