The British Journal of Psychiatry (2004) 185: 78
© 2004 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Medico-Psychological Association of Great Britain and Ireland, Northern and Midland Division
Researched by Henry Rollin, Emeritus Consultant Psychiatrist, Horton
Hospital, Epsom, Surrey
MEDICO-PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF
GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, NORTHERN
AND MIDLAND DIVISION.—The spring meeting of
this society was held on April 7th, at Scalebor Park, Burley-in Wharfedale,
the new asylum erected by the West Riding County Council exclusively for the
reception of private patients.—Dr. J. R. Gilmour, the medical
superintendent, who was in the chair, read a paper on the Value of Saline
Injections in Certain Acute Cases of Mental Disease. His method was first to
empty the rectum by an ordinary enema and then to inject 15 ounces of a 0.75
per cent. solution of common salt three or four times daily. Improvement in
many cases followed, the mental symptoms quietening and the pulse-rate
falling. The injection was rarely returned and no bad effects had been
observed. The bladder had to be watched. The treatment was most useful in
severe delirious cases where the strength was much reduced.—Dr. Eddison
expressed the opinion that the improvement was similar to that occurring in
the febrile cases in which restlessness and excitement abated when plenty of
fluid was given. In such cases the nervous system shared largely in the
benefit produced by the much needed water.
REFERENCES
Lancet, 23 April 1904, 1126
.
