Sudden death in a case in which chloroform was being administered / by W. A. Roberts, M.D.

  • Roberts, William Alfred.
Date:
[1855]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sudden death in a case in which chloroform was being administered / by W. A. Roberts, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    The liver, too, was firmly adherent by the whole of its convex urf'ace to the diaphragm, by old lymphy exudation, but when cut iirough, its substance revealed no other morbid change. The uterus was healthy, and its appendages healthy. In the dissection of the thorax, the lungs did not appear more nan ordinarily congested, except posteriorly, where they were of a eeeper colour, and contained more blood; this was, doubtless, the '3sult 0^post-mortem circumstances. When the pericardium was laid open, the heart was found preter- aaturally small in comparison with the conformation of the body ; ne right side was flaccid and full of blood, while the left side was 3)mparatively firm, and contracted. On dividing the descending eena-cava, a quantity (probably six or eight oz.) of dark, half 3)agulated blood escaped from its tributaries, and from the right luricle. The extreme thinness of the walls of the right auricle and ven- iicle were remarked when they were laid open; in fact, in no oDrtion of the muscular substance of the right ventricle did the liickness exceed one-half the normal proportions, and its component ,>ssue was soft and lacerable. Both right auricle and ventricle were gorged with dark blood, nid the valves belonging to both cavities were healthy. The left ventricle was contracted, and little blood remained in tther ventricle or auricle of this side. The musculai' parietes were ninner than usual, but the difierence was less marked than on the ight side. Under the microscope, the muscular fibres of the right side of the esart, more especially of the ventricle, were much altered in appear- iiice. The tranverse strife were indistinct, or had disappeared utirely in some portions, while fatty granules were everywhere ijservable, arranged in lines, along the direction of the fibres. The same state was found to be present, but in a less degree, in ne muscular tissue of the left ventricle; here, however, the fatty articles were few and scattered, and the transverse markings, for ne most part, distinct. The vessels of the brain were turgid with blood, but, beyond this, i«e cerebral organ appeared healthy. (Signed) J. Y. Simpson. A. Peddie. W. O. Priestley. To these statements I have only to add, that I have been in- rrmed that Mrs H 's father died some years since of disease of 'sart, being found dead in his chair. Edinburgh, 30, Qiteen Street, Nov. 23, 1855.