ON CONCEALED ACCIDENTAL HÆMORRHAGE; WITH CASES

EdgarG. Barnes
1881 The Lancet  
The benefit resulting from these is due, I think, to the liberated carbonic acid gas; this gives pressure and support to the abdominal organs from within, and renders them less liable to be depressed. The inhalation of nitrite of amyl has at different times been recommended for this disorder, and sometimes used beneficially, but it relieves only one of the symptoms of sea-sickness-viz., the syncope. It is a dangerous remedy if persisted in, and should never be used except under the direction of
more » ... a medical man. Chloral and morphia injections can only act by their power of narcosis, which causes a blunting of peripheral and central sensibility. Pressure over the abdomen is by far the most hopeful remedy we possess. A well-made mechanical appliance, specially designed for this purpose, and made for me by Messrs. Maw, Son, and Thompson, Aldersgate-street, I have found to be most efficient. This support fixes the abdominal organs, it also helps to do the work of the abdominal muscles until they become sufficiently educated to reflexly appreciate the exact moment when their duties should be performed. Bearing upon this latter point, it is well known that old sailors, after a long Pacific voyage, where the seas are regular and very large, frequently become sea-sick when crossing the British Channel and the Firths, where the waves are short and choppy, and the movements of the vessel very different from that which they have been accustomed to. In this case the abdominal muscles of the sailors have been well accustomed to one kind of movement, but are utterly unable to appreciate the other. It is found by experience that if the abdominal muscles can be kept in an almost continuous state of contraction, the tendency to sea-sickness is very much lessened. We can do this either by strongly willing to make these muscles contract, or by making a continuous expiratory effort as in singing or whistling ; but most will agree with me that this would be by far too tedious a procedure to recommend. It is well known that certain positions in a vessel are more likely to provoke sea-sickness than others. For example, an upright position with the back to the bows of a ship, and at one or other extremity of the vessel, is more likely to induce sea-sickness than the horizontal in the centre of the vessel would be. If from any cause the voyager is unable to assume the recumbent position, the next best one is to sit down on a low chair or stool, with the knees drawn up to the body, the body being bent forwards, and a roll oi clothing pressed between the stomach and the knees. I have often noticed that this position gives relief, the extreme pallor of the face changing to a normal colour. The abdominal support before alluded to is in the form oi a belt with five air-cells worked between the two layers oj the material-three in front, A, B, C, and two behind, D and E. These air-cells are all connected together by small air. tight tubes, F, F, and with the inflating nozzle G, and outlei plug H. The belt is applied to the body over the jersey, and buckled comfortably tight. When the sea is gentlt and smooth, there is no need to tighten the belt by inflating the air-cells, but if rough these are inflated until such com pression is produced as will convey a sense of support anc comfort. The belt when inflated is not noticed under a loosewaistcoat. If worn by ladies it should be worn without stays. The pads D and E are applied over the small of th< back on either side of the spine. When the air-cells arf strongly inflated, the belt is capable of sustaining a persor in the water. When used for this purpose, care should b< taken to secure the shoulder-straps crossways over the neck, and the belt should be drawn up under the arms. Bournemouth. THE subject of this paper has been forced upon me by the occurrence of two cases which I will briefly relate, and which I think are sufficiently uncommon to justify me in recording them. Cases of so-called accidental haemorrhage are of course common, but cases in which that form of haemorrhage is concealed in the complete manner in which it was concealed in these cases are rare, and at the same so difficult to diagnose in their early stages, and so frequently fatal, as to give them a very painful interest to those who, engaged in the practice of midwifery, may at any time be required to diagnose and treat them, possibly without the advantage of the advice and assistance of a colleague. My first case occurred on Oct. 6th, 1877. A healthy woman, about thirty-five years of age, pregnant with her third child, and daily expecting her delivery, sent for me at 9 A.M. in consequence of being taken with faintness and shivering. On my arrival I found her looking pale and faint, and she had that kind of shivering, without the sensation of cold, which so often occurs during labour. Her pulse was only 90, and her symptoms then did not alarm me. I considered them due to the nausea and dis. comfort which frequently precede labour, and having made a vaginal examination, and found a natural presentation, and the os uteri undilated, I contented myself with giving a dose of opium with spirit of ether, and requested that I should be sent for if she became worse. At 3 P.n2., when I was again summoned, I found the aspect of the case strangely altered. She had had a little pain since my visit in the morning, chiefly of an aching, stretching character, and unlike labour pains in being continuous, though slightly increased at intervals. She was blanched, extremely faint, with an anxious countenance and restless manner ; her skin was cold, her pulse of that character best known as "rapid," a combination of extreme frequency with extreme feebleness -in fact, she had all the symptoms of a woman dying from haemorrhage. I placed my hand on her body and was instantly struck by the immense enlargement which had taken place in the uterus since I left her, six hours previously, and I came to the conclusion that this must be due to haemorrhage into the cavity of the uterus, but was somewhat puzzled to find there was not even the slightest discharge of either blood or serum externally. The us uteri was at this time dilated to the size of a crown-piece, or a little larger, and readily dilatable to any extent that might be necessary ; the membranes were tense and bulging, and the head presenting; and I hastily resolved on a procedure which I know many will be inclined to criticise, and possibly, on more mature reflection, I might have decided on a different course. My practice in this case, however, has the sanction of as eminent an authority as the late Dr. Robert Lee, who advises that where a great internal haemorrhage has taken place, turning should be preferred to the simple rupture of the membranes, as the over-distended uterus does not contract sufficiently to restrain the flow of blood. Following this practice, then, I turned the child. When I ruptured the membranes in the course of this operation, an immense quantity of blood was forced out by the side of my arm in jets like water from a garden hosemyself, the bed, the floor, the very walls were drenched, and , the whole formed a scene of distress not readily forgotten. : I delivered without difficulty a dead female child ; and the placenta, which seemed fatty and readily toin, also came away easily. Shortly after delivery the collapse increased, her respiration became sighing, and extreme restlessness , supervened. I gave a dose of ergot, as the uterus did not L contract well, and then ten minims of laudanum with a little ether. Slight oozing continuing, I injected perchloride of iron into the uterus and ether under the skin, but she expired i one hour and a half after delivery. ! My second case occurred on Aug. 7th, 1880, the patient again being a healthv woman about thirty-five years of age, ; who had had several children previously. As my partner (Dr. Miller) and I were driving past her house we were called in. We found her pale and collapsed, with rapid pulse and exsanguine lips, and with a fixed impression ot im-
doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(02)35565-x fatcat:lbquzqyjdfbizbc6b5no3zjlde