Spontaneous Perforation of the Oesophagus: Review of the Literature and Report of Three New Cases

OBSERVED BY BOERHAAVE (The original occupies seventy closely printed pages) The subject of this accident was Baron de Wassenaer, a man over fifty years of age, and of powerful frame, whose appearance betokened perfect health. In his youth he had frequently suffered from "angina," and for many years during the winter he had been subject to gout, attributed by himself to overeating and want of exercise. After a full meal he always felt a sensation of great weight at the pit of the stomach, and to relieve this he was in the habit of taking ipecacuanha in a copious infusion of blessed-thistle (carcuus or cnicus benedictus. This hei b was once much used as a febrifuge and tonic, and as a mild diaphoretic. The infusion is said to induce vomiting or rather to assist the action of emetics, but probably it has much the same effect as warm water), though he sometimes used the latter beverage alone.