A case of hydrophobia / by Charles D. Homans.

  • Homans, Charles D. (Charles Dudley), 1826-1886.
Date:
[1854]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A case of hydrophobia / by Charles D. Homans. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    feelings might be spared, and requested that they might be told that be was only a little sick. At about a quarter before 2, P. M„ patient being nearly pulseless, and his extremities and countenance being quite livid, Dr. John Homans and Dr. Storer of Boston and Dr. Mason of Charlestown being present, together with Dr. Morris and myself, it was decided to use force and cause him to inhale chloroform fo» the purpose of relieving his agony, which had now become excessive. He was accordingly enveloped in a blanket, after a se-' vere struggle, and at 2£, P. M., he breathed his last, while under the influ- ence of this ansesthetic agent. . The autopsy was made on Wednesday, March 1st, at 10 o'clock, A. M., 20 hours after death. Present—Drs. Hodges, C> Ellis, Morris, Mason, Braun and myself. External appearances.—Greenish discoloration and peculiar livid appear- ance of the whole surface of chest and abdomen. Lividity about lips strongly marked. Posterior surface of body discolored by settling of blood* Rigidity of limbs excessive. Very offensive odor of commencing decompo- sition. Cicatrices of bites on leg still of a bluish color, with an induration around them like a nodule in the skin, and covered with a slight furfura- ceous scab. Cicatrices about ear nearly disappeared. Cerebrum.—Membranes perfectly normal and not congested. Subarach- noid fluid, clear and normal in quantity. Pacchionian glands not particu- larly marked. Substance of brain natural in color and free from congestion, but very soft throughout. Distinction between gray and white matter strongly marked. Nothing remarkable about base of brain, medulla ob- longata, or origin of cerebro-spinal nerves, save their general softness. Cerebellum generally quite soft, otherwise normal. Spinal Cord.—Fat deposited on exterior of dura mater of cord, more over some portions than over others. 5''j-—iv- of clear serous fluid in the spinal subarachnoid space. Consistence firm and natural* Vessels well filled in lower part of cord, empty above. Thorax.—Old pleuritic adhesions of lower lobe of left lung. Posterior portions of both lungs much congested. Heart well contracted—left ven- tricle empty; both auricles filled with soft black coagula ; elsewhere, blood generally fluid. (Esophagus, larynx and epiglottis normal; no congestion. Papillae at root of tongue well developed. Salivary glands (submaxillary) of both sides, normal, ducts pervious. Stomach well contracted ; internal surface mamelonated in pyloric portion; mucous membrane firm and thick, covered with a considerable amount of viscid mucus. Intestines—small, empty; large, empty and contracted. Liver firm and healthy. Pancreas nothing abnormal. Bladder contracted. Solar plexus and thoracic ganglia of sympathetic system presented nothing abnormal.