An essay on hysteria : being an analysis of its irregular and aggravated forms ; including hysterical hemorrhage, and hysterical ischuria / by Thomas Laycock.

  • Laycock, Thomas, 1812-1876.
Date:
1840
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay on hysteria : being an analysis of its irregular and aggravated forms ; including hysterical hemorrhage, and hysterical ischuria / by Thomas Laycock. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    On the 16th of May, Dr. Belcombe approved of my suggestion that the catheter should no longer be used. It was then repeatedly observed that the bladder became distend- ed, and most unaccountably subsided. The nurse discovered pil- lows, a bath cloak, and other articles soaked with urine; and on the 19th, after a minute search, I found the missing catheter in one of her pillows. This was immediately removed without her know- ledge, and on the 23d the pain of a distended bladder and fear for its consequences, compelled her to confess that at least on one oc- casion, she had drunk the urine she had vomited for the purpose of deception; that she frequently (more than six times, not twelve times), after having passed the catheter for herself, had mixed the urine with the food she had vomited, or asserted that she had vomited it as it was ; and also, that she could not make water. Be- ing questioned with regard to some of the special instances of vomiting of urine before-mentioned, nothing'positive could be elicited. That which she slated at one moment she contradicted the next. In general she asserted that the fluids proceeded from the stomach. Her information respecting the instances which occurred while at home was equally vague. She said she vomited a quantity of clear water—a something which tasted sometimes salt, and sometimes sour; but she did not know it was her urine; but that they, meaning her mother and neighbours, said it was. I took some pains in noticing the conduct of the mother, and am of opinion she was not accessary to her daughter's practices. The catheter was introduced into the bladder, and sixteen ounces of urine drawn off. From the 19th to this date (23d) she passed no urine in any way ; and only one small, hard stool. The strictest precautions were taken to prevent any deception. From the 23d of May to the 7th of June, H. O. evidently im- proved. The bowels were moved two or three times a day; the stools were liquid, and contained urine. She denied being able to pass urine by the urethra, or if she did, she was not aware of it. Her abdomen gradually became softer and smaller ; she ceased to vomit, and eat her usual farinaceous food freely. The ears and navel continued to discharge the fluid, No. 1, and two or three small portions of bony matter were found in the external auditory meatus of the left ear. She occasionally passed her urine in bed. Her back was carefully examined, and there was observed an extensive curvature in the dorsal region. A hot sponge passed along the spine, felt hottest (she said) at a point corresponding to the eleventh and twelfth dorsal vertebra;. These were tender to the touch. She was dismissed on the 7th of June, on the morning of which day she passed two ounces of urine spontaneously. Her tonsils were still as large as they had been during her stay in the hospital; she could walk, but stooped considerably; appearing a diminutive crooked girl. She had been confined to bed durino- the greater part of the time she was in the hospital (a period of eight months)