Insanity : its causes, prevention, and cure, including apoplexy, epilepsy, and congestion of the brain. / by Joseph Williams.

  • Williams, Joseph, 1814-1882.
Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Insanity : its causes, prevention, and cure, including apoplexy, epilepsy, and congestion of the brain. / by Joseph Williams. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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

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    rarely useful, often injurious, and but seldom effect the good for which they were prescribed, such un- fortunate statements, have, I believe, done incalcu- lable harm. I can only account for the non-success of narcotics, if judiciously selected and skilfully combined, by supposing that disease was chronic or absolutely organic, because in my own practice I have so constantly, so continuously, so almost in- variably been able to induce sleep, even when others have failed, that I cannot but feel that in the rest- less state which precedes insanity, or even in that insomnia which accompanies it, sleejD may as a rule be secured. Let it not be thought I uniformly prescribe one remedy in all cases, my aim is always to adapt the means to the particular symptoms ; it will frequently happen that one narcotic is more especially indicated than another; in some, the warm bath will be more especially useful, in others cold applications to the head produce a sedative effect; mere change of air alone, will often procure relief, but frequently a little therapeutic treatment at the hands of the medical attendant will be essen- tial ; and I would strongly urge upon those who have not yet studied the art and science of pre- scribing, to make themselves well acquainted with Paris’s Pharmacologia; it was the first medical book placed in my hands, now twenty-two years since, and has been by me more perused than any other work in my library, and I believe it contains the key which will unlock the mystery respecting