Pathological and Practical Researches on Diseases of the Brain and Spinal Cord (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1829 Excerpt: ...recovery from the coma was remarkable--the apoplectic state having taken place two hours after the attack, and having continued for three days. At that time, it is probable, the evacuations employed had the effect of restoring the circulation, which then went on in a very imperfect manner, until it was again interrupted by the fresh extravasation. The rapidity with which the disease advances, in cases of this class, will of course depend in a great measure upon the size of the vessel from which the hemorrhage has taken place. In some cases, it will be seen to be very slow in its progress, and, in others, extremely rapid--a very short interval taking place betwixt the first attack and the occurrence of perfect coma. Even in some of these cases, however, the patient survives a considerable time; but in others the fatal event likewise takes place with very great rapidity. The following selection of cases will illustrate the principal varieties of this very interesting modification of the disease. 1.--THE COMA RAPIDLY SUPERVENING ON THE FIRST ATTACK. Case CI.--A clergyman, aged 55, while delivering / his sermon during the morning service of Sunday, 13th May, 1827, was observed to stop and put his hand to his head; he then attempted to go on, but talked indistinctly, and had evidently lost his recollection; he supported himself by grasping the side of the pulpit. Assistance being immediately given him, he was taken out, and at this time was speechless and paralytic of the right side, but appeared to be sensible. He became rapidly more and more oppressed, and, in about twenty minutes from the commencement of the attack, had become entirely comatose. From the time when he was taken down from the pulpit, he was pale and cold, and his pulse extremely feeble; a...