Researches on the pathology of the intestinal canal. Part II. On the inflammatory affections / by John Abercrombie.

Date:
[1820]
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Researches on the pathology of the intestinal canal. Part II. On the inflammatory affections / by John Abercrombie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    in the villous, erosion or ulceration, sometimes with exudation ; in the muscular, gangrene. (3.) It is probable that, when the inflammation is confined to the villous coat, the action of the canal is increased,—when to the peritonacal coat, that it may be increased, or may be na- tural,—that, when it affects the muscular coat, the action is im- peded so as to produce obstruction or ileus. II.—-Practical Conclusions. (1.) Extensive and highly dangerous inflammation may exist in the intestinal canal without obstruction,—may exist and go on to a fatal termination while the bowels are spontaneously loose, or are easily moved by mild medicines. (2.) No diagnosis can be founded in such cases on the ap- pearance of the evacuations; they are sometimes slimy and in small quantity; sometimes copious, watery, and dark-coloured; and sometimes quite natural. (3.) Extensive and highly dangerous inflammation may bo going on with every variety in the pulse. It may be frequent and small, it may be frequent and full, or it may be little above the natural standard through the whole course of the disease. (4‘.) Extensive inflammation may go on without vomiting and without constant pain, the pain often occurring in paroxysms and leaving long intervals of ease. (5.) The peculiar tenderness which marks inflammation is the principal guide of the practical physician. Whenever this occurs, whatever may be the state of the pulse, and whatever the condition of the bowels, a disease is going on which will require his most eager attention, and his most active remedies. Outline of the Treatment of Intestinal Inflammation. In the treatment of this affection it is of essential importance that our attention be steadily and precisely directed to the real disease with which we are contending, and be not distracted by circumstances which may be considered as occasional effects of it. The disease is inflammation; and to subdue that is our great, our leading object in the treatment. An effect or conco- mitant by which our attention is apt to be distracted in many cases, is obstruction of the bowels. Now, this obstruction is not the disease,—it is only an effect of it, and an effect which, even