Medical Report, Hospital, Diseases, Mortality




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one the prominent symptom was copious and oft-recurring hemoptysis, on the occasion of one attack the patient seemed to be at the point of death, but on the extraction of a large coagulum, which had formed a mould of the interior of the windpipe, respiration was restored and life prolonged for a few weeks longer. The average age of the consumtive patients at their death was 30 years, and the average duration of the disease, 2 years.

ER YSIPELAS.—In the fatal case of Erysipelas the patient was not sent to hospital until almost dead, serous effusion on the brain produced fatal coma. The heart and liver also were found diseased after death.

DYSENTERY.—A fifth of the cases of dysentery admitted proved fatal. They were all chronic cases, some of them of years’ standing and dependent on or connected with disease of the liver.

PARALYSIS.—A case of universal paralysis proved fatal within a few hours of admission.

EPILEPSY.—A case of Epilepsy of many years’ duration, proved fatal, the patient was idiotic and imbecile, she was two years in hospital.

SYPHILIS.—One man died of Phagedaenic ulceration of the perineum of syphilitic origin.

DROPSY.—Two cases of dropsy are returned fatal, one consequent on scarlatina occurring in a child, who was brought from Dunedin, he was tapped, but signs of effusion into the pericardium became very urgent, and death soon ensued. The other patient was a long time in hospital, and was tapped 7 times, the liver was found to be in the condition termed Cirrhosis and was atrophied.

SCROFULA.—There were two fatal cases of Scrofula, in one the head of the right thigh bone was found to have been completely destroyed, the disease had existed many years. The other case occurred in an old native woman.

SENILE GANGRENE.—There was a fatal case of Senile gangrene affecting the left foot, the age of the patient was 87 years, and ossification of the arteries of the leg was found after death.

CANCER.—A case of soft Cancer or “Fungus Hematodes” of the testicles proved fatal. These were extirpated but the disease had extended along the spermatic chord into the pelvis and caused fatal hemorrhage.

FRACTURES.—We had three cases of Fracture, fatal, one a simple fracture of the left leg, occurring in an old man of intemperate habits. The fracture was adjusted and matters went on favourably for some days, but general convulsions having supervened, the patient died comatose. In a second case, one of the vertebrae of the neck, was broken by a fall into the hold of a ship; paralysis of everything below the seat of fracture immediately ensued, the mental faculties remaining entire. Next day coma appeared, and on the 3rd day the patient died. On examination the Theca vertebralis was found filled with blood, which rose as high as the Medulla oblongata and Pons Varolii. The case was what Dr. Abercrombie calls “Spinal Apoplexy.” In a third case, a man advanced in years was admitted with a simple fracture of the left leg, which ultimately became compound, and was attended with repeated attacks of hemorrhage. All ordinary means of arresting the bleeding having failed, amputation by flap was performed below the knee, but the patient sank three weeks after the operation. The hemorrhage was ascertained to have proceeded from laceration of the Anterior Tibial artery.

CONTUSION.—We had two fatal cases of Contusion, one an injury by crushing between logs of timber, the bladder was ruptured at its neck, and extravasation of urine ensued extensively. Death took place on the 4th day from the date of the accident. After death the muscles of the loins were found to be in a gangrenous condition. The other was an injury of the head, from a cart wheel having passed over it. There was no fracture of the skull, but a large quantity of blood was found extravasated on the surface of the brain. An inquest was held on the body by Mr. Stratford, Coroner.

BURN.—A case of burn terminated fatally. The left knee was the seat of the injury, and was eventually laid open by sloughing. The patient was kept out of hospital, until he was in a dying state, when amputation was out of the question. The heart and great vessels were found diseased.

GENERAL DEBILITY.—Five old men died of general debility, whose average age was 70 years.

NECROSIS.—In a case of Necrosis of the left leg of many years’ standing, amputation by the flap operation was performed below the knee. The patient was discharged cured in a month.

ACCIDENTS.—The total number of cases of accidents of all kinds admitted during the year was 80; of these six proved fatal. The number of females admitted was 55, of whom 5 died, only 2 Maoris were admitted. On May 7th, a lad aged 13 years was admitted, having had his right arm completely torn off by machinery close to the shoulder, and the left forearm fractured. The splintered fragment of the os Humeri, which protruded from a mass of lacerated muscles was sawn off as short as possible, and a flap fashioned according to circumstances. Everything turned out very satisfactorily, and after 40 days the patient was discharged cured, with a good stump.

REMARKS.—The average daily number of patients was 69; and the average stay of each was 30 days.

In February, Mr. R. E. Fisher, M.R.C.S., Ed., was appointed House Surgeon;



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VUW Te Waharoa PDF Auckland Provincial Gazette 1865, No 13





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🏥 Medical Report for 1864 (continued from previous page)

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Medical Report, Hospital, Diseases, Mortality, Auckland
  • R. E. Fisher (M.R.C.S., Ed.), Appointed House Surgeon