Surgical Cases in the Finsbury Dispensary '. 349 



beat ; respiration was much oppressed, cough very trouble- 

 some, and the tongue was covered with a brown fur. The 

 operation was immediately performed ; on which the sick- 

 ness left him, and copious evacuations were produced ia 

 two hours. 



R. Tinct. opii gtt. xl. aq. purae *]. M. f. haust. 

 — Statim eumend. 

 He rested well during the night ; and in the morning ex- 

 pressed himself to be comfortable, excepting the inconve- 

 nience which he experienced from the hiccup, which had 

 returned and was very troublesome. 



R. Aq. am. acet. aq. menth. iiu 5 iv. M. capiat coch. ii. 

 ter in die. 

 30th, pulse 80, skin soft ; a gentle perspiration was diffused 

 over the whole body, but the hiccup was almost constant 

 and very distressing ; the dressing, having become loose, 

 was removed, and the wound had healed at the upper pari, 

 and looked much better than could have been expected. 

 31st, the hiccup continued; but appeared to have been 

 more troublesome at three o'clock in the morning and at 

 eleven o'clock in the forenoon than at any other time du- 

 ring the twenty-four hours. The same observation was 

 made on the preceding day. 



R. Aq. menth. pip. J viii. seth. vitr. 5ii. tinct. 

 opii 5 ft. M.coch. ii. omnia sccund. bora sumend. 



August 1st, the hiccup had entirely ceased, and every 

 unfavourable symptom had disappeared : he requested to go 

 abroad, which was not permitted ; the wound was dressed, 

 which had nearly healed. 



3d, he continued to improve in strength, walked out 

 daily, and in a few days was enabled to resume his labour, 

 and was discharged cured. 



In the above cases the operation was performed under the 

 most unfavourable circumstances ; the patients being ex- 

 tremely poor, not having conveniencies, or even the com- 

 mon necessaries of life. It may be asked, Why were they 

 not sent to an hospital, where every necessary convenience 

 and attention would have been afforded, by which, appa- 

 rently, they would have had a much greater chance of reco- 

 very ? 



