A new method of inhalation for the treatment of diseases of the lungs / by W.H. Spencer.

  • Spencer, W. H. (William Henry), 1837-1910.
Date:
1895
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A new method of inhalation for the treatment of diseases of the lungs / by W.H. Spencer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    And, further, since terebene the liquid is absorbed in the stomach and passes through the kidneys and imparts a characteristic odour to the urine—and since terebene the vapour is absorbed in the lungs and passes through the kidneys and imparts the same odour to the urine— it is plain that terebene is unchanged as to its medici- nal properties when in the form of vapour ; in other words, is not spoiled for remedial use by the change of state at the temperature employed in the experiments. Similar results as to absorption in the lungs may be obtained with iodoform dissolved in volatile oils. In fine, the results of our experiments went to show that a range of temperature lying between ioo° and i8o° F. should satisfy all conditions and all practical medical needs ; and this conclusion has been abundantly con- firmed by therapeutic results in actual practice. And in actual practice it has been found that the upper limit of the range is even some 20° higher than is needful for all ordinary purposes ; for all ordinary medical purposes, a range of temperature between 110° and 160° F. is adequate. Not only is it a question of degree of heat for evapora- tion, there is the no less important question of the mode in which the heat should be applied. It needs hardly to be insisted upon that the supply of heat should be con- stant and uniform, and that the desired temperature should be maintained steadily, to the end that the supply of vapour may be uniform and steady ; and the mode of applying the heat concerns also the quality of the vapour. Now, there is only one way of applying heat to volatile oils so that these conditions be met and fulfilled—the application of heat, as in the operations of chemical and