Practical observations on the intermittent fever of Peru ... / [Mathie Hamilton].

  • Aliquis.
Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Practical observations on the intermittent fever of Peru ... / [Mathie Hamilton]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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

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    dicines which were given. It was stated, that such cases there are generally fatal, and that those who are so taken ill,^ are given up for lost. In this case, it appeared as if the warm bath and the efficient opera- tion on the primm vise, were the more immediate means by which it had a favourable issue. This black man was of great value to his owner, for he was a slave; but he presented a physiognomy and a facial angle, which would have been admired even by‘Cam- per himself. All these types of Intermittent generally yield to cinchona in some form; but it must be noted, that cases occasionally appear, in which neither quinine nor bark can be made available, because there are individuals so constituted as to reject the cinchona, however it may be given. In these circumstances, it is incumbent on the jDhysician to try something else. Coffee, in the form of infusion or decoction, has, in some cases, proved efficacious in the Intermittent Fever of Peru. One case which excited much notice at the time, in the locality where it occurred, was that of an English lady at Arica, in 1826. The cold fits were excessively severe, and vomiting accompanied every paroxysm. Both quinine and bark, in every known form, were administered during the intervals of attack, but were rejected by the stomach. No symptoms of gastritis were present; and as the pa- tient was enciente, there was imminent danger from a continuation of the paroxysms, as the concentration of blood in the larger vessels, and pressure on the contents of the abdomen, are often excessive during the cold stage. A strong infusion of coffee was given a little before the expected cold fit. It was taken hot as could be swallowed, and was always retained. The type was single tertion, which was completely removed without any other medicine than the coffee and mild aperients. This patient lived in Peru during twelve years afterwards, without another attack of ague.f— * No slaves have been imported into Peru during tlie last 20 years, t (She is now in England.