Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 688

666

Report of the Medual Missionary Society

DEC

Ascites from enlarged spleen. Two cases, one a female, have been treated for this disease in the house, and I now only refer to them to show the caution that is required in administering mercurial preparations internally. They both took hyd. cu. cretæ five gr. each day with aperients, and yet on the third day they were salivated; the woman severely, the man slightly. The former had hemorrhage from the gums with large secretion of saliva, and a little ulceration of the mouth for five days, and although much alarmed, remained till the ascites diminished one half. The latter, with only a small increase of saliva, no ulceration or heinorrhage, was afraid, and he went home. Other cases also clearly indicate that the Chinese can- not bear caloinel or any other oxide of mercury in repeated doses; once every other day can be borne with benefit. General bleeding also and drastic purgatives must be dispensed with in treating the Chinese. There is a greater susceptibility to the influence of all me- dicinal agents than with those of a more temperate zone and san- guine temperament.

Wounds. These for the most part have been superficial or affect- ing the extremities. One lad falling upon some crockery received a severe wound on the lower half of the thigh, dividing a large por- tion of the muscles on the outer side, but happily did not injure the femoral artery. A native surgeon refused to cure the patient under $12 before commencing his treatment; the father therefore was loud in my praise for healing it so quick and for nothing. The praises of the Chinese are not to be despised, but sad to say they are often insincere, though probably not in this instance.

Extirpation of a cancer. A female aged 50, mother of five children, admitted 2d Aug., with schirrus of right breast. The whole breast was one solid mass of cancerous disease of 3 years' growth; the inte- guments anteriorly were ulcerated slightly with an unoffensive puri- form discharge. There was no pain except occasionally darting pains running up to the shoulder. The tumor was oblong, directed outwards and forwards, about 7 inches in length, 44 broad, and appeared to be about 2 thick. The integuments around were healthy, free from all tubercular deposits, and the glands in the axilla not larger than is nsually the case in any irritation of the arm, or surrounding parts. Her health was unaffected, and her countenance and spirits cheer- ful. As the removal of the breast was urgently solicited, both by herself and husband, and as there was no symptoms to disallow the operation, it was accordingly performed on the 5th August, assisted by Drs Lockhart, Anderson, and Young, of whom the former (Dr