Observations on the Diseases of SeamenBlane, Gilbert, Sir
History
Observations on the Diseases of Seamen
Blane, Gilbert, Sir
Medicine, Naval -- Early Works To 1800; Sailors -- Diseases
At the approach of death, cold clammy sweats come on; the pulse
continues regular and of a certain degree of strength, but grows
gradually slower. I have counted it at forty pulsations in a minute.
The patient is frequently sensible to the last moment; nor does the
countenance sink into what is called the _Hippocratic_ appearance. In
other cases I have seen, at this time, _coma_, and not infrequently
convulsions. Broad livid spots sometimes also appear on the skin.
Extreme muscular debility, a great difficulty of deglutition, and a
dimness of the eye-sight, are likewise common symptoms in the last
scene.
The different stages which lead to dissolution following each other
thus rapidly, there is not that gradual failure of the powers of nature
that usually give warning of approaching death; but the springs of life
run down, as it were, at once, the wretched sufferer expires, and is
happily delivered from the most extreme misery of which human nature is
capable.
Such is the general train of symptoms in this fever, taken entirely
from my own observation; but great varieties occur both in the symptoms
and duration, so great indeed, that it is hardly recognisable for the
same disease. I shall give specimens of such anomalous cases in two
that occurred at Port Royal, on board of the Canada, in July, 1782.
A lieutenant of that ship had been subject, for four days, to fits of
retching, without any bilious discharge or pain in the stomach; and,
except a white tongue, he had no symptom of fever in that time, nor
any thing to prevent him from doing his duty. On the fourth day, when
I first saw him, he began to complain of a fixed pain in the pit of
the stomach, which was not very violent, and about the same time a
yellowness began to appear on the white of the eye. He took a laxative
medicine, which had the desired effect, and some volatile spirits, with
some drops of thebaic tincture in simple mint water, for the pain in
his stomach. He had a good night. Next day the complaint of the stomach
was better; but there was great muscular debility. He had several
natural stools; and as there seemed little indication but debility,
he took nothing that day except an infusion of some bitters and
aromatics in wine. As he did not want for appetite, he eat some broth
and chicken; and nothing to give any alarm happened this day, except a
short qualm, in which he was faint, with a sense of cold, feeling to
himself, as he said, as if he should have expired. In the afternoon he
began to have black-coloured stools, which was the first symptom that
clearly betrayed the nature of the disease. He was then ordered as much
Peruvian bark as he could take with red wine, and these his stomach
bore. Decoction of bark was also given him in clysters. He had a strong
voice, and was quite sensible, but grew weaker and weaker with frequent
returns of the qualms, and he expired that evening before ten o’clock.
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