A demonstration of the curability of pulmonary consumption : in all its stages. Comprising an inquiry into the nature, causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention of tuberculous diseases in general / By Wm. A. M'Dowell, M.D.

  • M'Dowell, William A. (William Adair), 1795-1853.
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A demonstration of the curability of pulmonary consumption : in all its stages. Comprising an inquiry into the nature, causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention of tuberculous diseases in general / By Wm. A. M'Dowell, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    Local dropsies occasionally occur, the absorption of which is accomplished without the concomitant estab- lishment of proportionate excretion to eliminate the fluid. In consequence of this, the retained fluid comes to be deposited again, in another part of the body. It sometimes happens, says Andral,* that the fluid which disappears from one cavity, almost immediately accumulates in another, where its presence is accompanied by a new train of morbid symptoms. 77. As with water, so also with albumen. When the blood is surcharged with the latter, we have an albuminous, instead of an aqueous, exhalation, infiltra- tion, or secretion, (for it matters not which to the parallel in question,) into the interstitial celular tis- sues; which is subject to the same laws, and liable, like the aqueous, to be absorbed and eliminated; or, if absorbed and retained, liable to be transported to, and deposited again, in some other part of the body. Ex- amples of which are given. (86-189.) Or if either deposition be retained until putrefaction and decompo- sition commences, it becomes alike productive of hectic fever, with all the concomitant symptoms. 78. The serum, in respect to its composition, says Andral, presents several varieties that we must not confound: 1st, it may contain at the same time much water and much albumen; 2d, the latter princi- ple may predominate, the quantity of water remaining the same, or even being diminished; 3d, the reverse may take place, and the serum be composed of much water and little albumen. Whatever be the composi- tion of the serum, it is sometimes found in small quantity in proportion to the coagulum, and sometimes * Andral's Morbid Anatomy.