Contributions to practical medicine / by James Begbie.

  • Begbie, James, 1798-1869.
Date:
1862
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Contributions to practical medicine / by James Begbie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    dity of the muscles still continued nearly as much as ever, though the disease had now continued nearly three weeks. The urgent symptoms were, however, subdued, and by a cautious use of the stramonium, and the daily employment of the warm bath and friction, in three weeks longer, the patient recovered so much as to be able to walk, though still with difficulty, into an adjoining room. In eight weeks from the commencement of the attack, he was free from complaint. The blood drawn never assumed a buffy coat, but it was re- markably florid. III. A woman, aged 50, had co'mplained for several days of acute pain, extending from a little below the knee to the upper part of the foot, more particularly along the lower half of the tibia ; it was deep seated, and referred to the bone. A variety of remedies had been employed, such as leeches, blisters, sinapisms, opium, etc., but without effect. The extract of stramonium, in doses of one-fourth of a grain every three hours, was recommended, but, impatient for relief, she dis- continued its use before any benefit could be expected, and persevered, for several days, in the use of large doses of the carbonate of iron with some advantage ; the pain gradually lessened, and disappeared. In a second and more severe attack some weeks after, the iron and other remedies failed, and re- course was again had to the stramonium in doses of one-third of a grain. The relief was remarkable before many doses were taken, and, in the course of a few days, the symptoms entirely disappeared. The patient went to the country soon afterwards, and requested a supply of the medicine, so sensible was she of the benefit derived from its use. IV. A young man had laboured for several days under severe sciatica, which resisted all the usual remedies. After the application of numerous leeches along the affected limb, and blisters to the hip, it seemed to be alleviated, but ex- tended farther down the limb. After eight days of severe