On the nature and treatment of the diseases of the heart : containing also and account of the musculo-cardiac, the pulmo-cardiac and the veno-pulmonary functions / by James Wardrop.

  • Wardrop, James, 1782-1869.
Date:
1851
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the nature and treatment of the diseases of the heart : containing also and account of the musculo-cardiac, the pulmo-cardiac and the veno-pulmonary functions / by James Wardrop. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    observations made alone on particular classes; for it can be readily conceived that the same ailment in a soldier or sailor, and in a person of delicate constitution and luxurious habits, must have in many respects a very different character. The same remark forcibly applies to rheumatic inflammation of the heart, the cases of rheumatic pericarditis referred to by different writers have almost all of them been selected from public hospitals ; whilst this disease, especially in its more severe forms, is comparatively of rare occurrence in the opulent classes of the community. Rheumatism The comphcatious of rheumatism with other diseases are combined j^nportaut to consider; for though the heart may be severely attacked with rheumatism, yet such inflammation soon par- ticipates in any constitutional pecuUarity or derangement of the general health which may have previously existed, with pie- If the patient be plethoric, the attack assumes a form which is accompanied with general plethora. If the person be of a gouty diathesis, the rheumatic attack is modified by that diathesis; and such combinations led nosologists to divide rheumatism into certain species. As in gout, it is the physiological symptoms by which alone logfcafs:^'?- are enabled to distinguish rheumatic affections of the heart; m^ifin-''''' and it appears incredible that so many inquirers into the flammation. ^^^^^^^ j^^^^t sljo^ld have remained quite satisfied with a detailed account of its morbid changes, and not have investigated the condition of the general system by which the changes were produced, as such an inquiry would not only have pointed out their true nature, but would have afforded a legitimate channel to discover some appropriate remedies. Thus far we have been contemplating the rheumatic mflamma- tiou of the heart in its acute form ; but rheumatism, like gout, is met with in every possible degree of intensity, and duration: and in those who have suffered from rheumatism of the heart, a chronic state may continue long after the febrile condition has abated. Like in other inflammatory diseases, we may therefore anticipate that in rheumatism there will necessarily take place all the different degrees of vascular f^rgescciice from that state of the capillary system, where the increased redness