The action of medicines in the system, or, On the mode in which therapeutic agents introduced into the stomache produce their peculiar effects on the animal economy : being the prize essay to which the Medical Society of London awarded the Fothergillian Gold Medal for MDCCCLII / by Frederick William Headland.

  • Headland, Frederick William.
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The action of medicines in the system, or, On the mode in which therapeutic agents introduced into the stomache produce their peculiar effects on the animal economy : being the prize essay to which the Medical Society of London awarded the Fothergillian Gold Medal for MDCCCLII / by Frederick William Headland. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    warning of danger, we may avoid all risk in the use of the anaesthetic. It is well known that it is convenient to admi- nister Chloroform on an empty stomach, or it will be likely to produce vomiting. Though Chloroform rarely fails to annihilate pain, and thus greatly to diminish the terror of the patient, it will not prevent him from sometimes dying of the shock of a serious opera- tion. An extensive injury to the body will suffice to produce a prejudicial effect upon the heart and nervous system, which is independent of the feeling of pain, and may occur without moral suffering. Chloroform is employed by some to relieve the pain of par- turition. It is not found to interrupt the action on the uterus. ( Vide Dr. Murphy On Chloroform in Childbirth, 1855, p. 37.) Although Dr. Lee has energetically discountenanced it, it seems to be more and more used among obstetric practitioners. With the above exception, it is a general muscular relaxer and paralyzer, and may thus be inhaled before an attempt to reduce an old dislocation, or to restore a hernia of long stand- ing. It is more efficient in such cases than either Opium or Tartar Emetic, and produces less distress than the' latter. For the same operation it is sometimes employed in spasmo- dic disorders. It has even been known to arrest the parox- ysms of that most incurable of all disorders, Tetanus. I have known it to do great service both in Epilepsy and Hysteria, when ordered to be inhaled regularly twice a day. It has been highly recommended by some who have tried it in De- lirium tremens. OPIUM. Class II. Div. II. Ord. II. Narcotica Somnifera. Class IV. Ord. V. Diaphoretica. Opium is the chief member of the second division of Nar- cotics, which consists of medicines that, in their action on the heart are about intermediate between Stimulants and Seda- 27