An inaugural dissertation on the theory and practice of emetics : submitted to the examination of the Rev. John Ewing, S.T.P. provost, the trustees and medical professors of the University of Pennsylvania, for a degree of Doctor of Medicine, on the 8th day of May, 1793 / by Henry Wilkins, of Annapolis Maryland ; member of the American Medical Society.

  • Wilkins, Henry, 1767-1847.
Date:
MDCCXCIII [1793]
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An inaugural dissertation on the theory and practice of emetics : submitted to the examination of the Rev. John Ewing, S.T.P. provost, the trustees and medical professors of the University of Pennsylvania, for a degree of Doctor of Medicine, on the 8th day of May, 1793 / by Henry Wilkins, of Annapolis Maryland ; member of the American Medical Society. 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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    II. Inflammatory Fever. Such a fever in its higheft degree, uncombined with topical affection, is a rare diforder in this country ; and in fuch cafes, probably, emetics might not have a place ; but in thofe of lefs magnitude, and efpecially when children or youths are the lub- jefts of it, as is moft commonly the cafe, emetics are proper me- dicines, and fhould in general be ufed with or without bleeding, as the circumftances of the patient's age and degree of affection may direct. For this we have the advice of many eminent practitioners. Anti monium tartarizatum is one of the beft; and to render its effects permanent and more general, it mould be given in do- fes of about one third of a grain, every eight or ten minutes, and continued till it vomits Sufficiently. As the tafte of it is dif- agreeable to fome people, it may be difTolved in apple-water, which effectually deftroys the tafte. By this medicine, the primae viae is excited ah ore ufque pd anum ; the furface is relaxed; and ofcen a permanent fweat is produced, by which a perfect victory is gained over the fever. III. Putrid Fever. Although vomiting is frequently fpontaneous at the begin- ning of moft putrid fevers, yet it does not contra-indicate eme- tics ; for it is the product of a debilitated primae via?, excited by a quantity of offending fordes ; to difcharge which, excite the itomach to a proper action, and roufe the vital fyftem, eme- tics are properly fuited. They fhould be given at the com- mencement of the difeafc. Only the gentler kinds are to be uf- ed, as ipecacuana ; vinum ipecac, from a dram to half an ounce, vinum antimoniale, from twenty to one hundred and twenty drops ; or a combination of ipecacuana and tartar emetic ; as eight grains of the former, with half a grain of the latter ; thefe are ftldom or never to be repeated. IV. Nervous Fever. This fever appears to have a greater claim to obstructions, as a caufe, than any other : to remove which, break the peculiar actions which conftitute the diforder, and roufe the actions of the fyftem, emetics are well adapted. For this purpole a tie emetic of ipecacuana is often of fervice when given in th§ beginning. V. Remittent Fever. In fome cafes of this fever it becomes necetTary to flop the fpontaneous vomiting. In fuch cafes it would not be advifeable to exhibit an emetic ; but in molt cafes, where there is only naufea and vomiting that is troublefome from continuance, ra- ther than excefs, a gentle emetic, prone.ly adminiitered, will B be