VOL. XXII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 547 



uiccount of an unusual Medical Case. By Dr. Francis Manginot. 



N°268, p. 756. 



I was surprised yesterday with a very extraordinary case. Madam R- 



daughter fell into violent convulsion fits, and while she was in them voided a * 

 large quantity of blood by the mouth, the nose, the ears, and the eyes. All 

 these symptoms were over in half an hour's time, and the girl, who some days 

 before had had a violent head-ach and fever, and a great oppression, was well 

 presently after that haemorrhage. The same accidents it seems have happened 

 several times. I am apt to believe they are epileptic fits; but the sudden relief 

 and cessation of them by bleeding through all these parts, I must confess is 

 wonderful to me. 



The girl was between 2 and 3 years old, when on a sudden she complained of 

 a very violent head-ach, she was also observed to be feverish and restless. At 

 the same time her eye-lids were much swelled, and so heavy that she could not 

 open her eyes, without great pain. These symptoms continued for 3 or 4 

 months, though more or less violent. At last she fell into convulsive motions 

 in her arms, legs, and other parts, and these were very severe for 2 days, till 

 she began to bleed by the nose, the mouth, the ears, and the eyes. This 

 haamorrhage lasted above a day; and when it was expected that the child would 

 be extremely weakened, she found herself so free from her illness that she re- 

 covered her gaiety, and asked for some victuals. Within 12 months afterwards 

 she had four of these attacks, but not so severe, the convulsion fits were incon- 

 siderable, in comparison of the first. The same symptoms returned again 

 about 2 or 3 times every year, and the head-ach about 8 days before the bleed- 

 ing, and even then it was much more supportable. About 2 months ago I 

 was sent for to see the girl, who is now 7 years old. I found her in bed, com- 

 plaining extremely of a head-ach, attended with a fever, a great catarrh, and 

 such a shortness of breath, as if she had had a peripneumonia. She had been 

 3 days in that condition. I told the mother, my opinion was she should be 

 blooded presently, to which she readily consented, telling me, that she did not 

 doubt but these were the fore-runners of the same haemorrhage the girl had 

 before; but it being very late, it was put off till next morning, and then indeed 

 it was needless, for very early in the morning, after some convulsion fits, she 

 began to bleed from the nose, the mouth, &c. When I came it was almost over. 

 The girl was then pretty well, without any fever or catarrh ; she could breathe 

 freely, was in good spirits, and had a good appetite; and ever since has conti- 

 nued in perfect health. Now as the returns are not so frequent, and the symp- 

 toms are so notably diminished, I am in hopes this may soon have an end, or 



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