Descriptive catalogue of the pathological specimens contained in the museum of the Army Medical Department, Netley / by Sir William Aitken.

  • Aitken, William, 1825-1892.
Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Descriptive catalogue of the pathological specimens contained in the museum of the Army Medical Department, Netley / by Sir William Aitken. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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

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    Fi'oni Pat. Dally, Royal African Corps, wlio had served 5 years in Sierra Leone ; and soon after liis return died of phthisis. The lungs ■were found infd-trated with tubercle and the liver (as well as the spleen) of large size and pale colour (malarious). Fort Pitt. 1315. Spleen enlarged, weight 1 lb. 8 ozs.; structure firm; investing membrane thickened and entirely covered by a thick uniform layer of lymph, which is at some parts semi-cartilaginous. No further history. 1316. Spleen much enlarged, weight 2 lbs. 5 ozs.; structure condensed, peritoneal coat thickened, with large white glistening cartilaginous spots on its surface, and portions of lymph attached. Print. Cat., page 120, No. 10. From John Gee, Eoyal African Corps, who, after two years' residence on the West Coast of Africa was invalided for the sequelae of remittent fever, especially splenitis. In hospital he had frequent attacks of severe epistaxis and pulmonary irritation; and while apparently improving, he suddenly expired. After death his lungs were seen to be in the third stage of pneumonic hepatization ; the right heart dilated, and the liver enlarged and abnormally indurated. Fort Pitt. 1317. Spleen very much enlarged, weight 4 lbs. 2 ozs.; it extended from the eighth rib to the crest of the ilium; structure condensed, peritoneum covering a quarter of an inch in thickness, firm, and cartilaginous. MS. Cat., Vol. II., page 172, No. 45. From Henry Earls, aged 26, 10th Regiment, of 4^ years' service, of which he spent 2 years in India. Shortly after his arrival in India, in 1841, he became affected with scurvy and foul bleeding ulcers on his legs. In October, of that year, his spleen became diseased and enlarged with severe constitutional symptoms, terminating in general dropsy. He w^as finally discharged for chronic splenitis, the spleen being very considerably enlarged. In June, 1861, at sea, on his voyage home, he was tapped to the extent of 12 quarts. He was admitted in Fort Pitt Hospital on the 3rd July, 1861, presenting the following appearances :—complexion sallow, eyes blue, hair very light coloured, skin harsh, dry, and scaly; on botli of his legs cicatrices of old sores, abdomen enlarged and tense, being 48 inches in circumference, the effusion occupying all the abdomen and impeded respiration, size of spleen not to be ascertained from the abdominal distension, no pain, pidse 100, tongue clean and moist, bowels loose. On the 4th July he was tapped to 26 pints, with temporary relief, and, subsequently to the opex'ation the spleen could be felt; the fluid, however, rapidly reaccumulated with great distress of breathing and general debility, and it became necessary to tap him again on July 14th to the extent of 9^ pints. He never rallied after this operation, the next day appeared much exhausted, countenance sallow and very anxious, conjunctiva yellow, skin continuing harsh, dry, and scaly, urine scanty, tongue covered with a dark, almost black fur. On the 16th he appeared slightly better, but on the l7th he had passed the preceding night very badly, the fluid was again accumulating considerably, great uneasiness and pain on abdominal pressure, countenance very anxious, tongue furred, skin harsh and dry, extremities cold, pulse scarcely to be felt. He gradually became worse and sunk on the 17th instant. Abdomen. On opening this cavity thei'e were found 14 pints of amber-coloured serum. Peritoneum, covering the intestines, of a mottled red vermilion colour, and that lining the walls of the abdomen