Southern Medical and Surgical Journal - Georgia Regents University

;1849.] Cases of Pneumonia Typhoides. 4istill continued, the patient must sink. Bronchial breathing hadtaken the place of the crepitus, and the prostration was great.Acetate of lead was now given, combined with suitable dosesof calomel and opium. In less than thirty-six hours, the perspirationand expectoration were reduced to an ordinary quantitythe pulse was below a hundred, and the delirium gone. Crepitantrale in right side returned. The gums had the blue border,and gave slight evidence of the action of calomel ; convalescencewas almost or quite established.Case II. Mrs. H., aged 45, of feeble constitution, had beenfrequently sick, and w^as at the time of the attack worn downby nursing. She was taken with a chill, followed by severeheadache and neuralgia, pains of the back and limbs, and aviolent lancinating pain in the left side near the border of theribs extending thence to the shoulder of the same side. Shehad a dry cough with trifling frothy expectoration, pulse 120and feeble, tongue slightly coated white, and moist, skin hot anddry. Percussion clear and a perfectly natural, vesicular murmur.Two days after plueritis extended to the lungs proper;the pain abated and a brick-dust colored expectoration appeared.Uterine hemorrhage also set in, not profuse, but sufficientto increase rapidly the debility. To check this hemorrhage,rather than with a view to operate on the pulmonic inflammation,'I gave acetate of lead, two grain doses, every four hours,united with calomel and opium, which she was taking. Thenext day the hemorrhage was less, but not entirely arrested,and all the other symptoms decidedly better ; and what maybe particularly mentioned, the skin was moist. The followingday, slight effects of calomel and lead on the gums were evident; continuing the same medicine in diminished doses, convalesencewas established, accompanied with a very soremouth.Observing the sudden effect of the lead here, and reflectingupon it, in connection with the case of Mr. G. S., I resolved togive it a trial in the next case which mio;ht occur, even shouldthere be no excessive evacuation which it might be desirableto arrest ; solely with a view to its alterative effect upon thecapillary structure.Case III. Mr. P. W., a young man of good constitution,sent for me at 6 A. M., the 12th Febuary last. He was takenthe night before with a chill which lasted an hour, which wasfollowed by heat and pain in tiie right side, near the border ofthe false ribs. He had complained of severe pain in the headalso, but -was now delirious. His pulse was 120 and feeble.