432

restlessness; and although there was a

possibility of the patient recovering, as thehaemorrhage was restrained, yet looking tothe exhausted state of the patient, and theslight temporary benefit that had accruedfrom the use of stimulants, he thought thebalance was against her, and that it was de-sirable to give the pabulum vitæ,—blood.About eight ounces, procured from the armof Mr. Davies, were injected at differenttimes—the whole operation occupying up-wards of three hours. It was not until thewhole quantity had been thrown in, thatthere was any decided amendment in thecondition of the patient; she then rallied,and became in every respect better. Herconvalescence has been gradual, and at thistime, eleven days after delivery, she is do-

ing well. The lochial discharge has re-

turned within the last three days, and shesays that she feels stronger and better thanin the same lapse of time, after her two pre-vious labours. There has been some tume-faction, and likewise pain of the arm, inwhich the transfusion was made ; but thesehave subsided. It is worthy of notice, thatthe patient expresses herself very stronglyon the benefits resulting from the injectionof the blood ; her observations are equiva-lent to this—that she felt as if lije were in.fused into her body.

SECALE CORNUTUM.

T’0 the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—The following case, the treatmentof which, though some may be induced tocensure, I consider may be useful to the pro-fession at large, I submit to your disposal.A lady, in the sixth month of pregnancy,

after some premonitory symptoms, whichhad then vanished, was suddenly seizedwith labour, and as her medical attendantresided at some distance, a neighbouringpractitioner was called in. The fœtus was

quickly born ; but, unluckily, in attemptingthe extraction of the placenta, which ad-hered very firmly, the umbilical cord wasbroken near, if not at its placental extremity.After some tune the pains left, and theDoctor also ; one, two, three, and even fivedays passed, yet still the placenta was re-tained, and was evidently a source of con-siderable irritation. It was absolutely ne-cessary that something should be done ;and having heard of the extraordinaryeffects of the secale cornutum on the uterus,it was determined to give it a trial. Ac-

cordingly, four scruples were boiled, in fourounces of water, down to two, and half anounce given every half hour, until some

effect was produced. Two doses occasioned

a very slight pain only ; but, after the tliirti,the uterus acted mpst powerfully, expellinga quantity of coagula. together with theafter-birth. The patient remained in a veryweak state, but soon recovered, and, inmost expressive language, extolled this ia-valuable medicine.The pains, she observed, were of a

severer kind, and gave considerably moretorture than any experienced during preri-ous confinements. This, probably, mightbe owing to the revival of the action of theuterus so soon after delivery, which alwaysproduces some soreness of that organ, andalso to the presence of a substance, whichthough formerly natural, had become foreignto the cavity.

It has’ been said that the ergot becomesinert by keeping ; that used in this in-stance was above twelve months old, and itcertainly possessed all its virtues. That itvaries in quality, seems much more plau.sible.

Dec. 6, 1828. M.

GLASGOW INFIRMARY.

ALEX, NAPIER.

To the Editor of’ THE LANCET.

SIR,—You most undoubtedly know, thatthe intent of the presence of medical stu.dents at surgical operations, performed inpublic hospitals is, that they may see thevarious steps of various operations; but

really, when I reflect upon my attendance mthe theatre of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary,in nine cases out of ten, I saw the patientonly brought in and taken out: during theperformance of the operation I Innked, but,in faith, I could see nothing’. This entirelyarises fiom the presence of a multitude ofunnecessary spectators immediately sur-rounding the patient. I could particularizeone man, a branch of the medical departmeatof said hospital, who geuei ally makes it apoint to stand directly between the studentsand patient, (believing, no doubt, that be isas transparent as the goggles be looks

through,) to the no small annoyance of suchas may attend for practical informationinow, I consider that, for the benefit ofall concerned, such a practice ought, IlIa,!

decidedly, to be annihilated, and that M

person should be allowed to stand hard bythe patient, excepting -those who are. actu-ally indispensable to the performance of theoperation. Nothing but the considerationthat the above-mentioned practice is a

"morbus ingravescens", induces me to re-

quest that rt may be made public throughthe medium of your Journal.

1 am, Sir, your obedient servar.t,ALEX, K.4rm.

Glasgow, 19th Dec., 1828.