Observations on influenza : its nature and consequences, as it appeared in the author's practice, during its recent prevalence in Newcastle upon Tyne, and at former periods in Edinburgh / by George Fife.

Date:
1833
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on influenza : its nature and consequences, as it appeared in the author's practice, during its recent prevalence in Newcastle upon Tyne, and at former periods in Edinburgh / by George Fife. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

    17/34 (page 13)
    to every one who has been called upon to treat the present epidemic; as in a given number of cases we shall find that no two amongst them have pre- sented the same characters, without at least some modification which called for a deviation from any system that may have been particularly extolled. Our remedial measures, then, must be adapted to the functional derangement which exists, in the most unequivocal and urgent form. Thus, in one case we shall find that our attention is principally demanded to the head and nervous system ; in an- other, to the throat; in a third, to the chest; in a fourth, to the stomach; and so on to the heart, liver, bowels, urinary organs, &c. Hence we find not only that no fixed rule can be laid down which will be generally applicable, but that we have, in almost every case, to modify our treatment accord- ing to the peculiarity of symptoms.—We shall now proceed to the consideration of the means that have been generally employed, those that we our- selves have exhibited, and state the circumstances under which each is indicated, or likely to prove injurious. Of- Bloodletting. In speaking of the treat- ment of Influenza, we have placed bloodletting at the head of our remedial measures, not from any faith in its efficiency as a curative means, but from our conviction of the irreparable mischief that has in many cases accrued from its employment, either where it was not imperatively called for, or from