Two Cases of Intubation in Adults

Case I.?M. S., aged 40, female, was admitted to the Bristol Royal Infirmary on February 12th, 1897, under the care of Dr. Shingleton Smith. She was suffering from considerable dyspnoea and pain in the larynx with troublesome cough, and her voice was reduced to a hoarse whisper. Three weeks previously she had caught cold, her voice not becoming affected, however, until a week later; but for the past week the difficulty in breathing had gradually increased. There was slight pyrexia ranging from 99? F. to ioi? F. She was treated, on the assumption that the laryngeal affection was of an inflammatory nature, by leeches to the throat, diaphoretics and steam tent. Notwithstanding this the patient's symptoms got steadily worse, paroxysmal attacks of cough with urgent dyspnoea accompanied by inspiratory stridor occurring frequently; and on the second day after admission the urgent distress of the patient necessitated immediate relief to the breathing. It was decided to attempt intubation, and this