Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-05

PATIENTS DOING wELL-A TALK WITH DIR. GID
DISas on THE SUBJECT.
One Of the lymph patients at Providence
Hospital is dead. He passed the way of all
earth on the 18th of February, and his death
has not been known to the outside world,
| although it was announced in the weekly
abstract published by the marine hos
pital service, under the auspices Of
| which the experiments are being con-
Quoted. in the issue of February 20. The mans
name was Stephen Morgan. an Irish sailor. who
was one Of the original patients ad-
mitted to the experimental treatment.
| His death not caused by the
effect Of the lymph, but was caused BY
exhaustion due to repeated hemorrhages, which
were frequent symptoms of his condition before
he entered the hospital here. Hence his death
| is not thought to have any bearing whatever
upon the value of the lymph or of these expert
ments, which are being conducted with the
greatest possible care and system and which
will undoubtedly produce some valuable re-
snlts. either in cures or in demonstrations.
The experiments are under the charge of
DIR. II. ID. Geddings assistant surgeon of the
marine hospital service, who was selected by
DR.. Hamilton for this work because of his
well-known ability in microscopical investiga-
tions. 1t was from him that a STAR reporter
Bie6neo numper OF interesting 1acts relating
to the death of Morgan this morning that
should be understood by the public before any
judgment is formed as to the cause of this sad
event.
IN THE FIRST STAGES.
Morgan was in what is called the first stages
of consumption or phthisis tuberculosis, as ii
is known to the medical fraternity. His was,
however, somewhat remarkable case for he
had severe hemorrhages. which usually accom-
nm ~ Sta xrhA
disease begins to make its inroads
upon the tissues of the lungs and
causes r1ptures of the blood vessels. The
first stage is that Of consolidation" in which
there is simply hardening Of the lung, and
which does not produce ruptures Of the
vessels. In the case of Morgan these two
symptoms were combined before his adj
mission to the hospital in this city.
The fact that there we're no injec-
tions OF the lymph for two weeks and over
before his death shows that the use of the
remedy had no direct bearing on his disease,
either to hasten or to postpone its elimination.
He realized his desperate condition when he
entered and took this chance. which he felt was
his last. When he died he said that he had no
idea that the use Of the lymph had had any
thing to do with his death.
clear idea of his condition may be had
from his record, which DIR. Geddings kept care
fully and which covered his previous history.
1t should be said, however. that the fact of the
former hemorrhages was not known until after
he had been brought here.
THE MEDICAL RECORD
The record is as follows: Stephen Morgan,
thirty-four years of age, native of Ireland:
weighed on admission 14O pounds. Trans
ferred from US. Marine Hospital at Baltimore.
Md, January 19, 1891. Has been sick for
nearly three years at irregular intervals:
severe cough for nearly fifteen months;
steadily Losing flesh. During May and
June, 1899, was under treatment in
Marine Hospital at Cleveland, Ohio. for fifteen
days. His diagnosis there was tubercle of
lung. In July, 80, had a hemorrhage. which
continued at intervals for sixteen days. Was
relieved. discharged and readmitted on ac-
count of hemorrhage, and was then under
treatment for thirty-one days. From there
to Pittsburg. Pa, treated in Marine Hos
pltal elghty-two days, same diagnosis. Then
transferred to Marine Hospital at Baltimore
While there had well-marked hectic fever,
night sweats. and steadily lost weight. Voice
became husky and disease seemed to have in
vaded the larynx. There is no family history
| of consumption. Transferred to Providence
Hospital, Washington. Had slight hem
orrhagc on the night leaving Bal
have consolidation of apices of both lungs,
more marked on right side. Physical signs as
evidenced by breathing sounds showed no
cavities Sputum was examined and tubercle
bacili found. Had a hemorrhage January
quantity. On the 2Sth there was violent
hemorrSage.
On the 2eth two more. Lymph was injected
| on the 2Sth of January, one milligram; on the
oath two milligrams; 30th, three milligrams.
There were no further injections CThree milli-
grams was the largest injection given, while in
the other cases as much seven milligrams
have been used.)
On the 4th of February the following note
was made: ''Since last date (January 30) pa
huah Tod ha,,,,
Is Frustrated and complains of great difficulty
of breating. Appetite mas completely failed
and he is rapidly losing strength"
This condition continued until February 49,
when he died from exhaustion consequent upon
! repeated hemorrhages
WHAT THE AUTOPSY DISCLOSED.
The autopsy which was made six hours after
death revealed the following condition of things:
BODY emaciated, rigor mortis absent, post
mortem extravasation well marked on arms,
back and buttocks. There WAS but little sub
cutaneous fat and the muscles were paler than
normal. Old pleuritic adhesions were found on
right side of chest The viscera and parietal
layers were adherent to each other and the pleura
was adherent to the lung and to the diaphragm.
On the left side the same conditions were pres
ent. but the adhesions were denser and appar-
emily Of older date. The left lung was CONSOLE
dated in the upper lobe. There were few Gaseous
deposits, and in the apex of the lung there was
q Cavity ABOUT the size OF an almond, with
smooth walls, which had apparently existed for
some time. The lower lobe was normal in ap-
pearance, pervious to air and everywhere crepi-
tated upon section or pressure. The
right lung was hyper@mic as a
dated and in the extreme apex existed cavity
about the size Of a walnut containing soft,
| Gaseous material, in amount nearly sufficient to
fill it. There was marked absence of any
general tubercular infection in both lungs.'
Morgan had no family or friends here and
was buried from the hospital.
PATIENT PROBABLY CURED.
In distinct contrast to this case Is one that is
causing DR.. Geddings to hope for a demonstra-
ton Of the value of the lymph. One of the
patients, a young sailor who has had ell of the
signs of phthiss for over six months
and who was well marked as being in
the first stages when he entered
the hospital in January, pronounces
himself cured ana insists upon leaving the
hospital. He will be kept. however. for a week
or two in order to make sure that his improve
ment ia not temporary. He taken with
his trouble while at sen last August and rap
idly developed a cough that led to his entering
the Marine Hospital at Baltimore, where
he was told that he had lung disease.
His cough increased until he came under
the lymph treatment, when the sputum expec-
torated was large in quantity. The injections,
he told q STAR reporter this morning, made
him very sick at first. but this effect gradually
wore OFF until he is now given the largest doses
without their producing any of the first effects
came here, but could eat horse now if it had
aalf on I fO CAT M nd IN