sloughy appearance. There was great effusion of purulent matter, under
the dura mater, investing the right hemisphere of the brain; the
corresponding tunica arachnoidea was thickened and opaque; and between
it and the pia mater there was considerable deposition of lymph and
pus. The fungus was collapsed, of a dark colour, soft consistence, and
connected with the anterior lobes; the surrounding cerebral matter was
much softened, and mixed with pus. The fracture extended through the
orbitar plate of the right os frontis, over which lay two small spicula
of bone; and a similar fragment was situated over the right optic nerve.
Many cases illustrating the danger of punctured fracture might be
related, but are unnecessary, inasmuch as they would lead to the mere
repetition of such facts as have been already stated.
Fracture of the external table alone must be rare, but we occasionally
see in museums specimens exhibiting a small portion of the outer table
driven into the subjacent cancelli, without any fracture of the inner
table. This kind of injury belongs entirely to that period of life in
which the diploe is of considerable thickness. The treatment would of
course be simply that adapted to contusion or concussion.
It is also possible for a blow on the head to produce fracture of the
brittle inner table, the outer table remaining entire. However uncommon
such a form of injury may be, as its effects may possibly be very
serious, it is right to bear it in mind. A splinter of the inner table
thus driven into the dura mater might cause violent symptoms and even
death.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account