The diseases of the breast, and their treatment / by John Birkett.

  • Birkett, John, 1815-1904.
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The diseases of the breast, and their treatment / by John Birkett. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    her infant, and with whom, under the influence of the iodide of potassium, the secretion of milk was diminished to such a degree that the medicine was obliged to be abandoned.— Cullerier, Mem. de la Societe de Chirurgie de Paris, t. i. p. 18. CASE LXXXVTI.—Galactorrhea cured by iodine and iodide of POTASSIUM, BY Dr. ElESEMBERG, OF CaROLATH. In the Journal de Chirurgie January ] 844, the follow- ing very curious observation of the cure of a galactorrhcea by iodine is related by Dr. Riesemberg of Carolath. A woman of 30 years old was confined with an infant which she began to suckle, but which she was obliged to wean on account of the difficulty it had in taking the breast. The secre- tion of milk did not continue the less for it, and only ceased, at the end of six weeks, with the first menstrual period. Two years after, she was pregnant for the second time, in the course of which they tried to elongate the nipple; they succeeded upon one side only, so as to allow the infant to suck. But a continual flowing of milk was soon established on both sides, so abun- dantly that the clothes were constantly soaked with it. A slight compression was exercised upon the breasts, in the hope of pressing the galactophorous ducts, but without success. The sulphate of potash, diaphoretics, blisters to the arm, cold appli- cations to the breasts, astringents both external and internal, and tonics, were even employed, without result: the flow con- tinued, the woman became thin, and wasted away from day to day, and began to have fever. At last, at the end of eighteen weeks, Dr. Eiesemberg had recourse to iodine, and twelve days after the galactorrhcea disappeared on the appearance of the catamenia. In all, five grains of pure iodine and one gros five grains of iodide of potassium were administered. A year after- wards, in 1841, the third accouchement took place. The infant