Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1880 edition. Excerpt: ... chapter iv. injection into A vein--alarming syncope--death--rapk) absorption--tourniquet. Art1cles have from time to time appeared in various medical journals, at home and abroad, detailing certain alarming symptoms following immemediately upon the injection, subcutaneously, of moderate doses of morphia. Such accidents have been ascribed by most authors to the entrance of the needle into a vein, with the consequent sudden passage of the drug into the circulation; by some to the injection of a bubble of air into a vein; by others to fright attendant upon the dread of the operation and the prick of the needle; and by still others to the rapid absorption of the remedy when a vein is not punctured. Which of these hypotheses is the correct one it is at present difficult to decide; perhaps each may have proved a factor at certain times or in certain cases. The weight of opinion would seem to favor the idea of sudden entrance of the drug into the circulation by puncture of a vein. By a careful study of some of these cases we may be able to come to a def1nite conclusion. Dr. M. E. Woodling, of North Branch, Minn., writes, in answer 'to my fifth query: "No deaths. My first case in which the hypodermic injection of morphia was tried resulted as follows: Patient large, strong and robust-looking man. Complained of pain in the course of the sciatic nerve, and of lumbago. Injection given back of the trochanter major, patient sitting; given slowly. I turned to lay the syringe on the table, when the patient appeared unsteady, straightened rather rapidly and persistently, and slipped from the chair, falling full length, supine, upon the floor, pale and with absent respiration. He was now perfectly lim
