Comments on convulsive diseases / by Charles Bland Radcliffe.

  • Radcliffe, Charles Bland, 1822-1889.
Date:
1851
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Comments on convulsive diseases / by Charles Bland Radcliffe. 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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    3. The beneficial influence of tonic remedies in the treatment of convulsive affections would appear to be well established in many instances. In chorea, iron is the sheet-anchor of practice; and in hysteria the same remedy is scarcely less necessary. Iron, also, has been of infinite service in cases of epilepsy, where the evident weakness of the system has caused the practitioner to disregard his theoretical notions about an excited condition of some part of the nervous system. Induced by these results, and especially by what takes place in chorea, Dr. Elliotson has given the same remedy in tetanus, and he says with advantage. It is well established, also, that quinine has the power of curing ague, and of furthering convalescence in ordinary fever when the vascular excitement is subsiding and when the muscles begin to be shaken with subsultus,—so that, in two points of view, we would seem to have proof of the efficacy of this alkaloid in com- bating the convulsive condition associated with fever. Now, it is well known, that the ferruginous constituents of the blood are deficient in persons who, like the majority of those affected with convulsive diseases, are wan and pale, and therefore we may readdy suppose that benefit should result from the administration of iron in such cases. We may understand, also, that quinine is desirable to counteract a specific poison, like that of ague, and further, perhaps, to assist the bitter prin- ciple of the bile in the process of digestion. Iron, in fact, may be useful to correct the debility resulting from pure exhaustion, and quinine to relieve that which is determined by the presence of some depressing poison; but, whatever the explanation, there is no doubt that both remedies are beneficial in the proper time and place. There are other metalbc remedies as well as iron, which have been employed in the treatment of convulsive affections, but none which are so sanctioned by experience. Sulphates of zinc and copper, nitrate and oxide of silver, have each their advocates, and not unfrequently they seem to act indirectly as tonics in relieving some irritable condition of the alimentary canal which has interfered with the perfect discharge of nutritive absorption, or in assuaging some exhausting diarrhoea. In relation to the salts of silver, no benefit whatever would seem to have resulted from absorption into the system. In epilepsy, at least, many cases are on record of patients who have been completely black- ened without any relief to the fits j and in other convulsive affec- tions there is no unquestionable evidence that good has resulted from its use. It is not impossible, however, that arsenic may