Dissertations, On cynanche trachealis or croup, and On the functions of the extreme capillary vessels in health and disease : to which were awarded the Boylston premiums for the years 1820 and 1823 / by William Sweetser.

  • Sweetser, William, 1797-1875.
Date:
1823
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dissertations, On cynanche trachealis or croup, and On the functions of the extreme capillary vessels in health and disease : to which were awarded the Boylston premiums for the years 1820 and 1823 / by William Sweetser. 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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    during the disease, the salivary glands not at all affected, and the breath not in the least tainted. On the prognosis in croup little needs be said. If we see the patient in the first stage, there will be a pretty good chance of effecting a cure, and the earlier we are called to him in this stage, the greater will the probability be of our success. If the physician is not called in until the second stage, the cure becomes quite doubtful, and the longer it has continued, the smaller is the chance of success. There are instances, how- ever, recorded, where the disease had continued, so long as two days, and still a cure was effected, and apparently by resolution. We must be greatly influ- enced at any period, in forming our prognosis, by the severity of the symptoms. Though when effusion has taken place, we can scarcely hope for a recovery, yet, in some rare instan- ces, the effused matter, or false membrane, has been expectorated, and a perfect restoration to health fol- lowed. Some instances are recorded where the mem- brane was expectorated entire, but it has been oftener coughed up in small portions at a time. Recovery does by no means always follow its expectoration, for it is plain that when the disease is extensive, and the lungs much affected, this can do but little good. The disease too may have so exhausted the living powers, that even should the cause of the disorder be removed, its effects on the system could not be recovered from. Cheyne, in his Essay on the complaint under consid- eration, gives a case in which the membrane com- pletely formed, was coughed up twice, and still the child died. In this last stage, as well as through the