Cases of diphtheria, with some remarks on the treatment of croup and of the throat affections in scarlatina / by G. Hamilton, M.D.

  • Hamilton, George, M.D.
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Cases of diphtheria, with some remarks on the treatment of croup and of the throat affections in scarlatina / by G. Hamilton, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

    16/34 (page 14)
    case of diphtheria three years previously, with apparently veiy satisfactory results. I confess, however, that up to this time I trusted 1 think, too much to the use of merely local applications and antlphlogistics. In all the cases which came under my care afterwards this medicine was used. To resume:—On the 17th, of the four patients who remained in the house the throats in three were decidedly less inflamed, and that of the fourth (Miss T.) a little less so also. Cont. iod. pot. Throat sponged and touched with caustic. On the 18th, the throats of the first three were still improving, and the lymph was slowly separating. Miss T., however, was not so well, Diu-ing the night her breathing had become croupy, and she had got an antimonial emetic, which had the effect of relieving this. Her pulse was now 96, and moderately full; the eyes were slightly suflused, and the throat, though a little less inflamed, was considerably more so now than any of the others. On the soft palate and back of the pharynx there were five small patches of lymph. Cont. u. a. iod. pot.; caustic solution to larynx. On the 19th, Miss T.'s windpipe decidedly aflected; voice husky and changed; throat, however, improving,- pulse 96, and moder- ately soft; sinapism to neck. Iod. pot. every three hours. Throat sponged and touched u. a. To use inhaling mixture.^ The other three patients free from fever and improving. Lymph had in several places now come otF, and left a superficial raw sore. On the fauces of two of them there had been for a day or two some raw-looking patches. Cont. omnia u, a. On the 20th, the girl who had gone to her own home got feverish and flushed; pulse 100, fall, and somewhat hard; took an anti- monial emetic, and was considerably better next day. The same measures were continued in her case as with the others, but she was not convalescent till about a fortnight from being first seized. On the 21st, Miss T.'s pulse was 96, and soft; huskiness decided; throat nearly as yesterday; blistered surface veiy tender. Cont. omnia u. a. 22t?.—Miss T, better; pulse 84, soft; quite easy, though voice still a little husky ; thinks the inhaling has done good in removing the laryngeal affection. Of the other three, my notes say, that they are now all but convalescent, the smallest portion of lympli adhering in each throat. The tliroats have now even a blanched appearance, and this extends to mouth and tongue; for, though I have spoken principally of the throat, the tongue, mouth, and fauces have all been injected, and this IS no doubt the^ reason why there has been so much tenacious mucus secreted. The tendency over the Avhole membrane aftected seems to have been to throw out lymph, which, when in small 1 The mhaling mixture given was one I have employed for many years, and was ongmally, I thmk, used by Dr Scudamore. Tinct. of iodine, iod. pot., and cicuta, are its active ingredients.