A treatise on the epidemic puerperal fever as it prevailed in Edinburgh in 1821-22. To which is added an appendix containing the essay of the late Dr. Gordon on the puerperal fever of Aberdeen in 1789-90-91-92 / [William Campbell].

  • Campbell, William, 1788-1848.
Date:
1822
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A treatise on the epidemic puerperal fever as it prevailed in Edinburgh in 1821-22. To which is added an appendix containing the essay of the late Dr. Gordon on the puerperal fever of Aberdeen in 1789-90-91-92 / [William Campbell]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    those committed to his care. Iam convinced, that I have often detected the disease 27 embryo, and arrested its further progress without having recourse. to any bold measures, merely by watching the pulse, and. carefully examining the state of the abdomen; for there may be increased arterial action for several days without any other symptom of the disease ; and in some cases, the abdominal pain is so trivial that a patient will not mention it unless questioned particularly on this point.* ‘he condition of the circulation is various at the commence- ment, but I have never found the pulse below 110, after it could be said that the disorder was fair ly established ; on the contrary, indeed, it was more frequent than this, — seldom under 120. When the disease is fully formed, the pulse is oftener from 120 to 130 than in any other state; and when it has continued for any time, the - rate of vascular action will seldom be slower than 140. In the advanced stages of cases which are to terminate fatally, -the pulse is oftener above 140 than below it, — sometimes it is too rapid to be numbered. In the commencement, the pulsation is sometimes full, but more generally hard; and as the disease advances, it becomes contracted or thready ; frequently intermits ; and towards the close, it is so weak for a considerable period as to be scarcely perceptible. t * From the circumstance alone of great frequency of the pulse without any apparent reason, I have been often able to detect the attack, when the woman herself has made little or no complaint. — John Clarke, p. 127. + Pulsus quam maxirne dubius, srifeeuns sub morbi initium, durus et concentratus, aut quandoque, etiam in principio, parvus, celer, et debilis. — Harrison. | Gg