The dictionary of medical and surgical knowledge and complete practical guide in health and disease for families, emigrants, and colonists / by the editor of the "Dictionary of useful knowledge" [i.e. Robert Kemp Philp], etc. [With illustrations.].

Date:
MDCCLXIV [1864]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The dictionary of medical and surgical knowledge and complete practical guide in health and disease for families, emigrants, and colonists / by the editor of the "Dictionary of useful knowledge" [i.e. Robert Kemp Philp], etc. [With illustrations.]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    pleasantly aromatic odour, and in appear- ance bears a strong resemblance to senna leaves. Medicinally it exercises a dii’ect influence on the mucous membrane of the bladder; and from that fact, and its action on tbe kidneys, has been largely employed in cases of cbronic rheumatism, inflammation of the bladder, and other affections of that organ. The only ofScinal jireparations are the tinctm'e—tinctura huclii—and an infusion and a powder of the dried leaves. The dose of the tinctm-e is from 1 to 2 drachms, of the infusion from 1 to 3 tablespoonfuls, and of the powder from 10 grains to half a drachm. BUCKTHORN. — The Hhamnus catharticus, a well-known indigenous shrub, common to this country, belonging to the Natm’al order Rhamnacece. The AveU-known properties of this plant have obtained for it the name of Purging Buck- thorn. This property has made it populai’ in all cases of worms in children, three or four berries being considered sufficient for a child of foiu’ yeai's of age, both to act on the bowels and expel the worms. The syrup of the berries is the only prepa- ration kei^t, and this, though it occasionally gripes, is a very active purgative, in doses of 8 or 10 drachms for an adult, and 4 or 6 for children. BULIMIA.—Inordinate or voracious appetite, a disease of the stomach and the digestive organs. The amount of food consumed by persons labouring under this ravenous state of appetite is enoi-mous. Ancient history is full of accounts of men and Avomen whose consiunption, though beyond all precedent, never seemed to bring satiety. The Emperor Maximus, a man eight feet high, despatched daily for his dinner forty poimds of beef and nineteen bottles of wine, Avithout counting bread and vegetables. In consequence of this immense diet, his frame expanded to such dimensions, that his AA'ife’s bracelets served him for rings to his lingers. But (TA'cn Milo the Cretonian, the gonnandizing of the Emperor Claudius, and all other cases recorded of bulimia, sink into insig- nilicance before the achievements ot the bloated monster, Vitellius, Avho ransacked Eui’ope, Asia, and Africa, to find luxuries for his inordinate appetite, CA'ery road being covered Avith couriers, and every sea Avith ships, stored Avith dainties for this CiBsar’s symposia. He made four im- mense meals a day, frequently taking au emetic an hour before the next, to enable him to eat more and enjoy the feast longer. So insatiable was his appetite, tluit during the pontifical sacrifices, Avhen, as high priest, he officiated, he Avould frequently snatch the half-heated entrails from the sacred fire, and devour them before the congi’cgated people. His brother, Lucius Vitelhus, once gaA^e him a feast, at Avhich there Avere 2,000 fishes cooked, 7,000 of the most rare and delicious singing birds, besides other varieties from all quarters of the world. Some idea of the enormous gluttony of this emperor may be formed when it is knOAAm that in the four months of his reign his table alone cost a sum equal to seven millions sterling. A stand- ing order in this despot’s domestic arrange- ments was that several thousands of pheasants’ INers, tongues of fishes, pea- cocks’ brains, and tails of lampreys, should be ahvays kept in stock. See Appetite, Depeavt?d. BUNION.—An inflamed and painful, SAvelling of the hursa mucosa, or sac eontainmg the oil of the joint, chiefly situated on the inside of the great toe. This disease, if not remedied in time, is certain to lead to a permanent enlargement and disfigurement of the toe. The exciting cause is generally a long-continued pres- sure from a tight boot or shoe. Teeatmext.—This should commence with a wai-m bran poultice, continued for one or two hours, so as to soften the cuticle of the part; a piece of lint, wetted in the extract of lead, is then to be applied, cold, roimd the toe, and the lint moistened from time to time Aidth more of the extract. In a fcAV hours all inflammation will have subsided, and if care be taken not to re- peat tbe pressure, but use a large boot, the bunion Avill be cm'cd. If it be pre- ferred, a couple of leeches may be applied, and, after the bleeding, a lotion. But in almost every case, the above treat- ment once or tAince repeated will bo certain to effect a cure. IMicn the too ba* become enlarged by the thickening of the cartilages, caustic may be rubbed over the part, after the inflammation has been sub- dued; and AA'hen the blackened cuticle peels off, the same process may be repented till absorption has carried off the SAV('lling. A piec(i of tl^k buckskin, or agaric, Avith a hole cut out. for the SAvollen part to come through, and then spread Avith ad- hesive plaster, should be Avorn for several days, to take off all pressure from the toe Avlien shoes or boots have to be Avorn. burdock.—The common burdiwk, the Arctium lappa, is said to possess aperient, diuritic, and diaphoretic pro-