The Coagulation of Blood in Arteries by Means of Solution of Per-
chloride of Iron—Aneurism of the Suborbital Artery Cured by this
Means.—Our readers, no doubt, remember the interesting account com-
municated by M. Lallemand to the Academy of Sciences, of the experi-
ments made by M. Pravas of Lyons. This question having been lately
brought before the Surgical Society of Paris, connected with its suc-
cessful application in man, we will briefly detail in what M. Pravas’s
method consists.
He makes use of perchloride of iron at the maximum of concentration,
a few drops of which it is to be injected into the vessel in which it is
desirous to obtain coagulation. This injection is to be made with a very
fine trocar, of either gold or platinum, the diameter of which is scarcely
greater than that of a needle; this is to be introduced very obliquely,
through the parietes of the artery, with a wriggling motion. To this
trocar is adjusted a small syringe, the piston of which works with a
rack and pinion motion, so that the injection proceeds without impulse,
drop by drop, and in such a way, the quantity of liquid injected can be
accurately measured. Every turn of the pinion allows of the escape of
two drops of the liquid. Whilst this injection is used, the circulation
is momentarily arrested in the vessel by means of pressure above and
below. A few drops suffice (three or four in a sheep, six or eight in
the horse) to form a solid and resisting clot.
Up to this time, the experiments had been only made on animals, but
M. Lallemand expressed a hope to see them succeed in man. This
appeal has been heard. M. Raoul Deslongchamps has just sent before
the Surgical Society of Paris a case of aneurism of the suborbital artery
treated with success by injection of perchloride of iron. It was a tumor
situated in the suborbital region, affording pretty strong pulsations,
isochronous with the heart’s action. This tumor, for the cure of which
compression had been used without effect, disappeared completely by
means of the injection, as recommended by M. Pravas, after presenting
some inflammatory symptoms, which easily yielded to antiphlogistic
treatment.—Dub. Med. Press, from Gazette Medicale de Toulouse and
Presse Medicale Beige.