Observations on the scarlatina anginosa, commonly called the ulcerated sore throat / by James Sims, M.D. ... ; with some remarks by Thomas Bulfinch, M.D.

  • Sims, James, 1741-1820.
Date:
1803
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the scarlatina anginosa, commonly called the ulcerated sore throat / by James Sims, M.D. ... ; with some remarks by Thomas Bulfinch, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    I had been myfelf every winter for many years, liable to one* or more attacks of the inflammatory angina, for which I had ufed many methods of cure in vain, the diforder running its regular courfe in fpite of all my efforts ; and to {hew that thefe were not feeble ones, I fhall only mention, that I once had about forty ounces of blood taken from my arm in the fpace of eight hours, without its feeming in the leaft to fhorten the complaint. At laft, about ten years ago, I refolved to try what the vitriolic acid would do in the cafe : I therefore, on the next attack, fent for two ounces of the oil of vitriol, and mixing part of it with water, I made as ftrong a gargle as my throat would poffibly bear ; I continued five hours inceffantly gargling with this, until I had ufed many quarts of water, and alfo the greateft part of the acid. That I might give the gargle the greater effi- cacy, I from time to time fwallowed as much of it as I found my ftomach would receive. The defign I had of fwallowing part of it, was my reafon for choofing this acid, as I knew the ftomach would bear a much greater quantity of it, than any other aftrin- gent we are acquainted with, and believe we cannot apply a gargle fufficiently to the difeafed part, without letting fome of it pafs into the aefophagus. So intent was I in profecuting my fcheme, that I believe I would have perfifted until I had ufed the whole of the acid, had I not been conftrained to leave off by exceflive faintnefs and fatigue. When I had done, the inflam- mation had entirely fubfided, and my throat felt quite parched and flirivelled. From that time, I have not been once attacked by the difeafe. My fuccefs in this cafe led me to prefcribe the fame acid in all other cafes