Post-mortem appearances. The skin and conjunctivæ were of a light yellow colour; there were incisions in the right groin. In the cavity of the right pleura, were some patches of recently effused lymph, of a yellowish colour. In the lower lobe of the right lung, were several patches of secondary deposit; these were found in different stages of their formation, and some of them were of considerable size; some of the pulmonary veins, in the neighbourhood of those which had suppurated, were found to contain a fluid resembling pus. On the left side was a small abscess, under the pleura costalis. The liver was healthy in structure, rather larger than usual. Kidneys healthy. The veins in the groin presented a healthy appearance.
Case xxx. A gentleman was operated upon for hæmorrhoidal tumours in the usual manner, and died shortly afterwards, with effusion of bloody serum into one of the pleural cavities. The only peculiarity that could be detected in the appearance of the rectum was, that the blood was still fluid in one of the largest veins. This vein led directly to an ulcer produced by the operation; and, even at its extremity, it contained no appearance of coagulum.
D. CASES IN WHICH VITIATED FLUIDS WERE OBSERVED IN THE VEINS OF THE UTERUS AFTER CHILD-BIRTH.
Case xxxi.[45] On the second day after a natural labour, a woman had prolonged rigors, which were followed by abdominal pain and much perspiration. On the fourth day, she was affected with syncope and bilious vomiting, accompanied by extreme prostration. On the fifth day, the abdominal pain, which had subsided, re-appeared with agitation and delirium. On the sixth, she had cold sweats, irregular pulse, rapid breathing, and vomiting. She died on the following morning.
Post-mortem appearances. There was a small quantity of limpid serum in the cavity of the peritoneum. Some of the uterine veins were found to contain a turbid fluid. The heart was half filled with brown blood. The lungs were congested, and the other organs natural.
Case xxxii. A woman, twenty-two years of age, of a nervous temperament, miscarried at the expiration of the first month. She was almost immediately afterwards attacked by rigors and bilious vomiting, accompanied by pains in the loins and in the hypogastrium. On the following day, there was coma, with indications of extreme debility. On the third day, consciousness returned. There was difficult articulation, and moaning. The extremities became cold, the pulse imperceptible, and death occurred upon the same day.
Post-mortem appearances. The peritoneum was slightly injected, and contained a small quantity of reddish serum. The cervix uteri was covered with a layer of pus. Semi-transparent lymph was found in some of the uterine veins. The brain, and other organs, were found healthy.
Case xxxiii. A feeble girl, 21 years of age, was confined at the expiration of the eighth month. On the fourth day, there was shivering and prolonged fainting. The following morning, she had acute abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhœa. On the seventh day, the symptoms had all subsided, but on the eighth the abdominal pain returned, accompanied by syncope. She died two days afterwards.
Post-mortem appearances. The peritoneum was slightly injected, and contained about a pint of red-coloured serum. The uterus was large, white, and firm, its veins half filled with fluid blood; its lymphatics natural; its inner surface lined with a layer of fetid brown blood, but otherwise healthy; the cervix covered with a grey, thin exudation. The lungs, heart, brain, and other organs, were quite sound.