LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS TO VOL. VII. BELL, JAMES, M.D. BURLAND, W. H., M.D. CLARK, ANDREW, M.D.,F.R.C.P.,Lond. DAWSON, RANKIN, Esq., B.A. MCARTHUR, J. A., Esq. MCCALLUM, D. C., M.D., M.R.C.S., E. McDONALD, J. W., M.D., M.R.C.S, E. DUNCAN, GEO. C., M.D., L.R.C.S., Ed. MIGNAULT, D., B.A. EDWARDS, A. C., M.D., M.R.C.S., E. OSLER, WILLIAM, M.D., M.R.C.P., L. HOWARD, R. P., M.D., L.R.C.S., Edin. | STEWART, J., M.D. S SEP 78 CANADA MEDICAL & SURGICAL JOURNAL AUGUST, 1878. PYEMIA AND DEATH FOLLOWING THE CUTTING OF A CORN. BY OLIVER C. EDWARDS, M. D. (Read before the Medico-chirurgical Society of Montreal, May 31st, 1878.) On Wednesday, March 6th, I was called to see S. S., a young man aged 19, residing in Prince street. On enquiry the following facts were given me of his previous history. He had had an attack of pneumonia three years prior to his present illness, otherwise he had enjoyed excellent health. He was one of a family of thirteen, two of whom had died in infancy. Father and mother are living. He had been engaged as a printer for five years, and for the past two years of that time has been working in a well-ventilated office in this city. The house in which he was lodging was comparatively comfortable and neat, but the street is low-lying, and the drainage defective. He had lost much sleep during the winter, from an over indulgence in dancing, often dancing all night-this taking place on an average two nights a week. Three days before his present illness he danced all night in a very warm room, and perspiring freely. He slept for about half an hour in his damp clothes, and then went to his work at the usual hour. I was also informed that on February 27th, while in the act of shaving down a corn on the little toe of the right foot, with a razor, he accidently cut too deep, and the wound bled somewhat freely. Having bound up the toe he went about his work as usual. On Saturday, March 2nd, he complained of pain in the toe, and noticed it somewhat inflamed. On the following day the pain NO. LXXIII. 1 was more acute, and the inflammation had extended up the foot for a distance of three inches. It was also noticed that a few drops of pus had formed around the corn on the little toe. A bread and water poultice was applied and the pus discharged. The pain was so acute on the evening of that day, that having gone to a friend's house he was obliged to be assisted back to his home. He also felt a slight pain extending up the inner side of the leg and thigh. On Monday March the 4th the painful sensations had ceased entirely in the right leg, and the inflammation had entirely passed away from the foot, but he now experienced a very acute pain in his left hip and joint. Fever came on during the day and perspiration, which became very profuse at night-time, but no chills. On Wednesday, March the 6th, I saw him for the first time. Found him lying on his right side, which position he had retained for the past two days, the left leg somewhat flexed-face expressive of much anxiety, and complained of great pain in the left hip-joint, the character of which he described as "like the beating of a blacks mith's hammer." There was no swelling about the joint, but it was tender to the touch. He complained also of a slight pain in the popliteal region of the same leg. Pulse, 100; temperature 100 2-59. Tongue coated but moist. Knowing that the patient had, two nights before his illness, exposed himself to cold by dancing, perspiring freely, and afterward sleeping in his wet clothes, and thinking that the slight accident in cutting the corn on the little toe was a mere coincidence, I at first judged this to be a case of inflammatory rheumatism, of a kind which is sometimes present, the pain confined to one joint, no appearance of swelling, and the pain most excruciating. Accordingly, I administered at the first visit a hypodermic injection of morphia, and put him on the salicylate of soda, 20 grs. every three hours, powder of morphia to be given at stated intervals, and ordered hot applications to the joint, and nourishing liquid diet. March 7th.-Perspired very profusely during the previous night, his bed-clothes and shirt saturated. Appears, however, |