Archives of Clinical Surgery, Vol 1 A Periodical Devoted to Surgery in All Its Special Departments October, 1876 Classic Reprint

Excerpt from Archives of Clinical Surgery, Vol. 1: A Periodical Devoted to Surgery in All Its Special Departments; October, 1876

The second case was one of rapidly growing vascular tumor, situated on the left arm at the middle of the internal border of the biceps muscle. The patient, a gentleman, twenty-five years of age, from Texas, had from birth been the subject of naevus, but it had remained stationary till a few months before he came under my care to be treat ed for epilepsy. At that time the tumor was an inch and three-quar ters in its long and about an inch in its short diameter, and nearly three-quarters of an inch high at its most elevated point. Pulsation was strong throughout, and this fact, together with its bright red color, showed it to be mainly arterial in character.

I made altogether four injections into this tumor, at intervals of ten days, each injection consisting of two drachms of the fluid extract of ergot, introduced in two portions, at different points.

From the first, amendment was apparent, and the tumor ceased to grow. After the second, the diminution in size began, and the pulsa tion became less strongly marked. Two weeks after the first injection, there were no signs of the tumor beyond a thickening of the skin at the place where it had been, and a slight brownish tint. At no time had there been any tenderness or other evidence of inflammation.

The third case was very similar to the first. The growth was flat, mainly venous, and was situated on the forehead a little to the left of the mesial line. Three injections at intervals of ten days sufficed to effect a cure.

In neither of these cases was there at any time the least evidence of inflammatory action from the injections, and consequently I feel war ranted in attributing the successful results entirely to the action of the ergot on the organic muscular fibers of the Vessels. Certainly the practice is in all respects to be commended as less painful and danger ous than any other procedure yet employed. Further experience can alone determine whether it is likely to be of permanent value.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.