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en:ahr:dunham-c-chlorine-and-spasmus-glottidis-158-10409 [2012/07/12 10:56]
127.0.0.1 external edit
en:ahr:dunham-c-chlorine-and-spasmus-glottidis-158-10409 [2013/04/22 10:04]
legatum
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 {{anchor:​s10}}In 1852, I had an opportunity of witnessing the effect of a strong accidental inhalation of chlorine gas by an adult. {{anchor:​s11}}The same phenomena of comparatively,​ free, but <span grade2>​crowing</​span>​ inspiration,​ and of absolutely obstructed <span grade2>​expiration</​span>​ presented themselves, the face became extremely livid, convulsive movements of the extremities began, and the patient became partially comatose. {{anchor:​s12}}I administered ammonia by olfaction, the spasm relaxed, and consciousness returned along with normal respiration. {{anchor:​s10}}In 1852, I had an opportunity of witnessing the effect of a strong accidental inhalation of chlorine gas by an adult. {{anchor:​s11}}The same phenomena of comparatively,​ free, but <span grade2>​crowing</​span>​ inspiration,​ and of absolutely obstructed <span grade2>​expiration</​span>​ presented themselves, the face became extremely livid, convulsive movements of the extremities began, and the patient became partially comatose. {{anchor:​s12}}I administered ammonia by olfaction, the spasm relaxed, and consciousness returned along with normal respiration.
  
-{{anchor:​s13}}These experiments show a power in chlorine, to produce the following condition, "Spasm of the glottis, which interferes but little with inspiration,​ giving to it a crowing sound, but which prevents expiration. {{anchor:​s14}}During the continuance of the spasm, the respiratory acts consist of a succession of crowing inspirations,​ each followed by an ineffectual effort at <span grade2>​expiration,</​span>​ the whole serving to inflate the chest to a most painful extent, and attended at last, by turgescence of the face, and more or less complete coma, with or without convulsive movements of the extremities,​ and during which the spasm relaxes.+{{anchor:​s13}}These experiments show a power in chlorine, to produce the following condition, "Spasm of the glottis, which interferes but little with inspiration,​ giving to it a crowing sound, but which prevents expiration. {{anchor:​s14}}During the continuance of the spasm, the respiratory acts consist of a succession of crowing inspirations,​ each followed by an ineffectual effort at <span grade2>​expiration,</​span>​ the whole serving to inflate the chest to a most painful extent, and attended at last, by turgescence of the face, and more or less complete coma, with or without convulsive movements of the extremities,​ and during which the spasm relaxes."
  
-{{anchor:​s15}}In the proving of chlorine, in Vol. II, of the <span grade2>​Neues ​Archir,</​span>​ a similar effect is indistinctly indicated. {{anchor:​s16}}Pareira says "if an attempt be made to inhale undiluted chlorine gas, it produces <span grade2>​spasm of the glottis.</​span>​ {{anchor:​s17}}Twice I have suffered severely from the accidental inhalation of it; and each time it gave the sensation of constriction of the air tubes, such as might be produced by a spasmodic condition of the muscular fibres of the bronchial tubes" The peculiar nature of the chlorine spasm, viz. that it affects expiration almost exclusively,​ is not mentioned by Pareira.+{{anchor:​s15}}In the proving of chlorine, in Vol. II, of the <span grade2>​Neues ​Archiv,</​span>​ a similar effect is indistinctly indicated. {{anchor:​s16}}Pareira says "if an attempt be made to inhale undiluted chlorine gas, it produces <span grade2>​spasm of the glottis.</​span>​ {{anchor:​s17}}Twice I have suffered severely from the accidental inhalation of it; and each time it gave the sensation of constriction of the air tubes, such as might be produced by a spasmodic condition of the muscular fibres of the bronchial tubes." The peculiar nature of the chlorine spasm, viz. that it affects expiration almost exclusively,​ is not mentioned by Pareira.
  
 {{anchor:​s18}}Bearing in mind the odium, which has been attempted to be cast upon some of our colleagues, for flooding our literature with "​fragmentary provings,"​ which serve no purpose but to "​cumber the <span grade2>​materia medica,</​span>"​ and to annoy our practitioners with an "<​span grade2>​embarras de richesses</​span>"​ (as if it were not worth while to publish and to study anything, however "​fragmentary",​ if it furnish us the means of curing, were it but a single case!{{anchor:​s19}}) I might have abstained from publishing the above symptoms of chlorine, had not the following case demonstrated their practical value. {{anchor:​s18}}Bearing in mind the odium, which has been attempted to be cast upon some of our colleagues, for flooding our literature with "​fragmentary provings,"​ which serve no purpose but to "​cumber the <span grade2>​materia medica,</​span>"​ and to annoy our practitioners with an "<​span grade2>​embarras de richesses</​span>"​ (as if it were not worth while to publish and to study anything, however "​fragmentary",​ if it furnish us the means of curing, were it but a single case!{{anchor:​s19}}) I might have abstained from publishing the above symptoms of chlorine, had not the following case demonstrated their practical value.
en/ahr/dunham-c-chlorine-and-spasmus-glottidis-158-10409.txt · Last modified: 2013/04/22 10:06 by legatum