The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-08-30
Doctors Lingo.


White House are finding technical terms
somewhat new to them, and also the details
of medical processes relating to symptoms
with which they are but imperfectly acquaint-
ed. This is evidenced by their conversation
in front OF the bulletin boards, and by occa-
sional notes of inquiry, "What is tympa-
nitis? "What is peritonitis:" "How do the
doctors find out his temperature?" and so on.
1t will serve a popular purpose to explain
some Of these matters. The midnight bulle-
tin between Sunday, July 3, and July said:
''Some tympanitis is recognized" This
caused great uneasness to the doctors. The
meaning of it was that the abdomen of the
patient was swelling up like a drum, the
swelling being due to an accumulation of air
or gases in the intestinal tube or else in the
peritoneum, and this is considered very un-
favorable sign in injuries like those of the
President. The tympanitis, happily, did not
last long enough and was not sufficiently
great to cause extreme danger. The word
comes from tympan, drum-and the SWELL
ing from imitation is variously called "tym-
pany," "wind-dropsy," and ''drum belly.''
'Peritonitis," which the doctors feared al
SO, is an Inflammation of the peritoneum,
membrane that envelops the intestines and
other abdominal organs, and generally the
interior of the abdomen. This membrane
takes its name from two Greek words which
express its meaning-around and to stretch;
peritoneum, therefore, meaning in this in
stance a membrane that stretches around and
about the intestines. Inflammation of that
membrane, or ''peritonitis,'' always marks a
dangerous phase of disease or injury from
wounds.
The temperature of a sick or wounded per-
son indicates the presence or absence of in
tianmatory condition, and in cases like this Is
watched with great solicitude. The temper
ature is ascertained by placing the bulb of a
small thermometer, especially adapted to the
purpose, in the mouth of the patient or some
times under the arm-pt. The average natu-
raj heat of the human body in good condi-
tion Of health, is 9S5 deg. Farenheits scale.
1t is usually marked on our thermometer as
blood heat at 9s deg. In infammed conditions
the temperature of patients has been observed
to rise as high as 10S deg. in children and 1O7
deg. in adults. Anything above 104 to 1O5
deg is regarded as very serious by physi-
clans. The Presidents tempeature has risen
several times to 1919 deg, or nearly .4.6
above normal or natural. In Asiatic cholera,
the temperature sometimes sinks as low as II
deg, when even the breath of the patient
feels cold.
The fluctuations of the pulse are noted
carefully in the daily bulletins. In good
health, and when the body is quiet, the natu-
raj beats of the pulse of ali adult male are
about 60 or 20 minute. There are consid-
erabie differences, however, even in healthy
persons, according to the comparative quiet or
activity Of the body.
whether standing, sitting or lying down.
There are differences too, at different periods
OF the day, the greatest frequency of the
pulse-be occurring about the middle of the
day, and the least about midnight. All 9TH
things being equal, the pulse is quicker in
the morning Than in the evening. In condl-
tions of profound coma (morbid sleepy or
lethargy the pulse beats have dropped as low
as II in minute, and they have mounted as
high as 200 in minute in children afflicted
with water on the brain. Since his injury, the
Presidents pulse has huctuated from o. beats
in minute to 1856. This is about twice as
frequent as the pulse-beats in a state of health
and in uet re cumbent position.
Frequency of respiration" is likewise a
feature of the bulletins. Since he was wound
ed his respiration has ranged from 10 to "a
breathings minute. In health, and when
free from any exciting cause, the number of
breathings per minute is IA to Is; but in con-
ditions of disease it sometimes falls as low as
7 breaLhs minute and rises As high as 100.
Ofcourse many people understand all about
what is printed in the foregoing remarks, but
there are some who do not, and others who
did know and have forgotten. 1t will do no
harm to any Of them, even those best in
formed, to 60 over the matter again.