A Short Account of Ten Cases of Eclampsia Treated by Intravenous Injections of Magnesium Sulphate

During the past winter in Benares tiie jveather was very cold, especially during the unar eclipse and all the cases of eclampsia admitted to the Ishwaria Memorial Hospital Were of a severe type. In December there were iree cases treated by the routine morphine and c lloroform method; these were all fatal. In anuary I resolved to try one of the newer methods of treatment for this disease. ten cases of eclampsia have been admitted this year; nine were discharged in good health; one fatal case had repeated injections, presumably of morphine, before coming 0 hospital. The cases which received only magnesium sulphate with occasionally some '-moral hydrate and potassium bromide in saline Were all remarkably free from lung complicaions, and in spite of inadequate nursing atten;ion did well. Rectal medication was given up 111 .he later cases, because it was found that owing to restlessness patients did not retain the lectal catheters, and there were not enough nurses to allow of constant attention. As a iule patients were given castor oil or black draught as soon as they were able to swallow, and then also large doses of alkalies were given our hourly. Consciousness was usually complete on the third day postpartum, and headache was complained of for a few days after his. No pituitrin was used in any stage of the abour. All the cases had been vaginally examined before admission and all had a febrile Pueiperiuni and for this reason many had to be Kept a long time in hospital. The progress of 1/ labour was investigated only by rectal examinations after admission. The preparation of magnesium sulphate used was that prepared by the Bengal Chemical Company. My house surgeons, Mrs. Mahadavan and Miss Deshpande, deserve my gratitude for their help and the interest they took in these cases.