Observations on pulmonary consumption, or An essay on the Lichen islandicus, considered both as an aliment and a medicine in that disorder.

  • Regnault, Jean-Baptiste Étienne Benoît Olive, 1759-1836.
Date:
1802
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on pulmonary consumption, or An essay on the Lichen islandicus, considered both as an aliment and a medicine in that disorder. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    The detersive and desiccative properties of lime water in external wounds, have undoubtedly led to its use in ulcers of t}ie lungs; but we have shewn, under the article Balsams, the ab- surdity and danger of this doctrine ; besides the employing such a remedy has other consider- able inconveniences. The prudent physician will not lose sight of the great causticity of ime; it is such, that although water will only hold a very small quantity in solution, this jwater has a strong alkaline flavour so acrimo- nious, that it is almost impossible to drink a i lass of it; to render it capable of being drank without inconvenience, it must be diluted with very considerable quantity of pure water. We nay easily conceive thus weakened how small i proportion of the medicinal properties of ime it will retain. We may endeavour to tem- per the causticity of lime water with milk, but his manner of prescribing it, is more perni- cious than useful; Mr. Maquart has demon- trated its danger, by reminding us, that |]uick lime produces, when given in mucous ubstances, white of eggs, and preparations of rilk, coagula of extreme hardness.