The Lancet Volume 9

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. 1826 Excerpt: ...in blindness ot similar accidents under ordinary treatment, I determined to take blood fre.ely from the trunk of the temporal artery; this was effected without loss of time, and H. sufficient quantity of blood abstracted to induce faintness, the bleeding ceased spontaneously, when she became faint. The artery was divided across, for at the time this case occurred, before any severe instance of secondary haemorrhage had come under my observation, I trusted to the statements of authors that the full division of the artery, ami the subsequent retraction of the ends of the vessel, would be a sufficient security against haemorrhage. Before an hour had elapsed, I was hastily summoned to revisit the patient, who was losing blood from the temple so profusely as to alarm those about her, so that their attempts to stop it bad proved quite ineffectual. I secured the lower end of the artery by the tenaculum and ligature; but still the blood continued to flow almost as fast as before the ligature was applied; but On careful examination it was evident that the blood did not flow from the lower orifice, which I had tied, but from the upper portion of the divided artery, the inosculations bavin;; been sufficiently free to supply the upper p-.rt with blood so fully, as to produce a continuous stream. On securing this upper orifice, in the same manner as the lower, the Bow of blood instantly ceased. The parts were cleaned, the edges brought together by a strip of plaster, and no further inconvenience was experienced. The blood effused into the anterior chamber was absorbed, and she regained perfect vision. This case induced me to reflect upon the causes of secondary hannorriiage, and established in my mind the principle, that it was not consistent with the patient's saf...