Page:Recovery from the passage of an iron bar through the head.djvu/8

8 and uncle. Bleeding into mouth continues. Asks who is foreman in his pit. Has not vomited since midnight.

On the following day, the 15th, the hœmorrhage entirely ceased. Slept well half of the night, and could see objects indistinctly with the left eye.

For a detailed and daily record of the progress of the case, I will refer you to the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal of Dec. 13, 1848. It is sufficient for my present purpose to call your attention to a brief abstract of some of the most important features of the case which followed.

On the 15th Sept., two days after the accident, the patient lost control of his mind, and became decidedly delirious, with occasional lucid intervals. On that day a metallic probe was passed into the opening in the top of the head, and down until it reached the base of the skull, without resistance or pain, the brain not being sensitive.

16th, there began an abundant fœtid, sanious discharge from the head with particles of brain intermingled, finding its way out from the opening in the top of the head, and also from the one in the base of the skull into the mouth. On the 18th, he slept well nearly all night, but was as incoherent as ever in the morning. 22d, at 8, A.M., I learn that he has had a very restless night. Throws his hands and feet about, tries to get out of bed. Head very hot. Says "he shall not live long so." 23d, I find he has rested and been quiet the most of the night. Appears stronger and more rational. Pulse, which has varied from 60 to 84 since the injury, I find at 80. The scalp was reshaven and the edges of the wound brought into apposition as nearly as possible, the edges having sloughed away. The discharge less in quantity, and less fœtid.

At this date, ten days after the injury, vision of the left eye, though quite indistinct before, was totally lost. Up to this time it had not occurred to me that is was possible for