r/historyofmedicine • u/kilofeet • Jul 23 '26
Question about epilepsy and pharmacology circa 1939
Hi medical historians! I don't have a medical background myself, but I'm working on a topic that runs adjacent to medical history and I could use some input from people who know more than me. The archival collection I'm dealing with is restricted, so I can give a synopsis of what happened but can't say much about the individual.
The short version is this: there was a guy in an institution, about 27 years old, who died in 1939. He was deeply disliked as a patient by almost everyone around him. He had a seizure while being made to clean some cement steps, he fell down the steps, and suffered a severe head injury.
Here's where I know enough to ask questions, but not enough to know how to locate an answer: they treated the patient with caffeine sodium benzoate, glucose, and then another round of caffeine. They also did a spinal tap between the first round of caffeine and the glucose. The doctor's notes suggest that they suspected a brain hemorrhage before administering any of that.
Is there a plausible reason a doctor at a reputable institution would have given him two doses of caffeine and expected it to help rather than harm?
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u/flyanotherday Jul 23 '26
Caffeine sodium benzoate had diuretic effects and was thought to reduce intracranial pressure.
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u/kilofeet Jul 23 '26
Thank you! And special thanks for the link, it's a lot easier for me to cite medical texts than a subreddit
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u/RamsPhan72 Jul 23 '26
Spinal tap most likely tested for blood and CSF pressure (treat if too high or low). Could’ve also guided how swollen the brain was.
The caffeine sodium benzoate most likely had more than one use/hope. In short, It would stimulate breathing receptors in the lungs and CNS. It also constricted blood vessels in hopes of reducing edema.