The use of nitric acid in the treatment of uterine disease / Lombe Atthill.

  • Atthill, Lombe, 1827-1910.
Date:
[1873?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The use of nitric acid in the treatment of uterine disease / Lombe Atthill. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/18 (page 10)
    I have met with several such cases. One is alluded to in my Lectures on Diseases Peculiar to Women, 2nd edition, p. 120. This patient went to the country soon after the application of the nitric acid, and I have not been able to learn any particulars of her since. The following is a very interesting and instructive case. Case IX.—M. H., aged forty, was admitted into the Adelaide Hospital on the 7th January, 1873. She was married, but had never been pregnant. Six years ago men¬ struation commenced to be profuse, lasting for a week, and attended with severe pain, referred to the back, and shooting down along the course of the sciatic and pubic nerves. Menstruation became by degrees more and more profuse, the interval between each period shortening, while the pain not only increased in severity, but became incessant. For months prior to admission she never slept except when under the influence of opium. Indeed she habitually took full opiates every night, in the hope of procuring some remis¬ sion of her sufferings. On passing the hand over the abdomen, a tumour could be felt above the pubes, which on examination proved to be the uterus greatly enlarged, and bulging out anteriorly. The sound penetrated to the depth of five inches. The diagnosis of fibrous tumour was made, and as the symptoms were urgent, its removal, if possible, was decided on. Seven pieces of sea tangle were accordingly introduced into the uterus. On their removal the finger passed easily through the os internum, but the inner surface of the uterus proved to be quite even, and the tumour did not encroach in the least degree on the cavity. On consultation with Dr. Churchill and Dr. Kidd, who kindly assisted me, it was decided that any attempt at further surgical interference was unwarrant¬ able, but that the nitric acid should be applied freely, expe¬ rience having proved to us that its application exercised a powerful influence in checking the menorrhagia present in such cases. Accordingly, having introduced the intra-uterine speculum to protect the cervix from the action of the acid, and having wiped out the interior of the uterus with dry