An essay on the history, causes, and treatment of typhus fever : to which the annual prize for the year 1829 was awarded by the Medical Society of the State of New York / by Alfred T. Magill.

  • Magill, Alfred T. (Alfred Thruston), 1804-1837.
Date:
1834
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay on the history, causes, and treatment of typhus fever : to which the annual prize for the year 1829 was awarded by the Medical Society of the State of New York / by Alfred T. Magill. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    derive full benefit from ilie remedy. H we discover from the symp- toms that an acute inflammation of some vital viscus threatens the life of the patient, we cannot commence our operations too soon. We should draw blood ph.no rivo, and not rest satisfied with a small drib- bling stream. The first mode of bleeding is infinitely preferable to the last, as it effects a more speedy reduction of the pulse, and sooner brings on a state of fainting, which is much to be desired in very vio- lent cases, as it is accompanied with vast relief to the inflamed organ.* l( the heart should react under this loss of blood, and the symptoms of inflammation reappear, we should, without hesitation, open the vein a second time, and bleed until the patient is relieved. It rarely hap- pens that bleeding thus early and decisively does not entirely remove the inflammation; and though the febrile action may continue for some toys after, it is easily kept in check by the use of purgatives, Sic. 1 his vigorous practice is only intended for the most exalted grades of this fever. It is every way preferable to the half way temporizing measures of timid physicians, who will sooner bleed ten ounces ever? day for a fortnight, than, by one or two copious bleedings in the com- mencen.ent, extinguish the inflammation and sometimes the fever at once; and in this way, too, producing much less debility, than by pur- suing the opposite and much more precarious course. We are by no means to be deterred from this treatment by the appearances of great debility which often .present themselves in the commencement of this lever; these are deceptions; beneath them lurks a disease of the most speedily fatal character; which, if not unmasked and detected, will soon destroy the patient The language of Armstrong on this subject is full of wisdom. If the topical affection (says he) has been but of short continuance and the vigor■ of the constitution be merely weighed down and not really exhausted, let him discard the fears associated with fate doctrines and promptly abstract blood according to the seat and extern In severe and violent cases of typhus, there is scarcely any remis- sion, but m the milder, there ,s generally some little abatement of The symptoms; m such cases it ,s always best to use the lancet during e period of the greatest exacerbation, or acme of the fever.f *We have a striking example of the powerful effect of blr^n, / , /• • unl.l a sensation of faintness or sickness is produced in ease T/W''7'?m' or rnia. The tunica conjunctiva, which before^atcas the HrZ!0***1 r°pUU,aI- Wood could make it, will he found almost ^^l^J^^TS °f a.rt!«] tension of the eye surprizing relieved. '<*ncnea, and the pain and Jit is not a little singulai that some of tlip Tn/»m«( i • • mended a different course: they thoLl t hJto ! '^slc,ans ^u]d haverecom- fever was death; thus Celsus sa'vs, ''si vohemens tebds ur^t f ^ height °f thc sangu.nem m.tterc homiaem j«Su!.re est; Mpee^^&JJ^^ eJus