Benjamin Franklin's Kidney Stones.

[sandyRoe]

In his day was there a treatment for these or a way to alleviate any pain?

[Peter Pedant]

judge jeffried was meant to have them
and he was so bad tempered as a result of Deitl's crisis

( a water load in his case after dindins gives kidney related pain )

1780s - probably leeches
they could have recommended water loading and measures to alkalinise the urine but I dont think it had hit the stocks that early

[Peter Pedant]

oops sorry Bladder stone
yes cutting
pepys dewscribes it
20% mortality

[Sqad]

Laudanum, morphine (Opium) aspirin, all available in the 18th century to relieve pain.
The stones could be crushed rt removed, but as P.P says the mortality rate was high, so surgical intervention was only used for the intractable cases.

[sandyRoe]

If he was in pain you got your neck stretched. When he was feeling better he might have sent you to the West Indies.

[Sqad]

LOL^^^ things haven't changed sandy......

[Sqad]

http://collectmedicalantiques.com/gallery/stones-and-obstruction

There you go sandy....and that also explains why surgeons in England are referred to as "Mr."

[RATTER15]

I looked this up in an old medical book I have, unsure of when it was published. http://i66.tinypic.com/2ekswlk.jpg

[Sqad]

Ratter...it mentions X-Rays and they came into use in the late 19th or early 20th century........so I would say the article would be in a book about 1920.

[RATTER15]

Thanks Sqad, It makes some very interesting reading!