On the nitrate of silver: with full directions for its application in the treatment of inflammation, etc / [John Higginbottom].

  • Higginbottom, John, 1788-1876
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the nitrate of silver: with full directions for its application in the treatment of inflammation, etc / [John Higginbottom]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    grains of the compound extract of colocynth, fol- lowed by a purgative of salts and senna, repeated every three hours until it operated freely. 7th. Early the following morning, although the emetic and purgative had operated satisfactorily, she was labouring under a severe attack of fever; the pulse was 140, and the erysipelas had spread considerably on her face and forehead, and slightly on her scalp. I opened a vein in the arm, and bled her in the semi-recumbent position to the amount of twelve ounces, when she became faint. Her head being shaved, the concentrated solution of the nitrate of silver was applied upon and beyond the whole of the inflamed surface, and also around the ears, to prevent them becoming inflamed. I applied it very freely over one half of the scalp, thinking this might be sufficient, as only a small portion of the forehead was affected. I prescribed two grains of the chloride of mercury, with two of James’s powder, every six hours. There appeared no increase of the inflammation on the 8th, and the pulse was 120; the bowels had been well moved. On the 9th she had a restless feverish night, attended with slight delirium, the pulse being 120. There was no increase of erysipelas on the face, but it was spreading on the remaining part of the scalp. I applied the solution of the nitrate of silver over the