Blackwater fever in the tropical African dependencies : reports for 1912.

  • House of Commons
Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Blackwater fever in the tropical African dependencies : reports for 1912. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    in his habits and took no intoxicants at all for the two months immediately preceding his illness. Novcmher History of present illness.—For a week before his illness the patient complained of and was treated for constipation. He was somewhat worried and upset about his work. On the morning of November 9th, while at work in his oriice, he complained to his medical adviser of headache. At 4 p.m. on th? same day he sent for medical attention. His temperature was now 100 4°. Ah exannnation of the blood failed to reveal malaria parasites. He said that he had been taking quinine, grs. 20. for the past four or five days. At 11 p.m. bilious vomiting occurred and a definite rigor was noticed. Both liver and spleen were enlarged. November 10th : At 10 a.m. the temperature was 103 6°—the maximum for the day. Vomiting occurred spasmodically during the day. He complained of thirst, nausea and pains in the back. Three dark liquid motions were passed. The urine was quite clear but contained a trace of albumen. November 11th : At 11 a.m. the temperature began to rise, until at 2 p.m. it reached 104°—the maximum during the illness. Simultaneously with this rise in temperature, haemoglobin appeared in the urine and \vas present for the rest of the day. The blood was again examined, but no malaria parasites were found. The pulse, small, regular, and compressible, was about 86 beats to the minute. A large quantity of urine was passed, but with considerable straining. Frequent motions, containing both bile and heemogiobin, were passed. November 12th : At 2 a.m. there was profuse perspiration and with it the heemoglobinuria gradually disappeared. Rigors were frequent—every 20 minutes. Vomiting and diarrhoea Were most persistent. No food or medicine could now be retained. The urine, of which 29 ounces were passed, contained about half its bulk of albumen. Nov.. 13th : Exhaustion was marked and the pulse and heart grew gradually weaker. There were delirium and unconsciousness. The temperature remained between 1016° and 103 8°; the highest temperature recorded was at 6 p.m. 57 ounces of urine were passed during the day.