Practical illustrations of the scarlet fever, measles, and pulmonary consumption : with observations on the efficacy of sulphureous waters in chronic complaints / by John Armstrong.

  • Armstrong, John, 1784-1829.
Date:
1818
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Practical illustrations of the scarlet fever, measles, and pulmonary consumption : with observations on the efficacy of sulphureous waters in chronic complaints / by John Armstrong. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    congestive variety of the scarlet fever, he should keep his finger constantly upon the pulse, from the moment that the blood begins to flow: and if he should find it rising in force, he may be as- sured, that he may safely proceed to a moderate extent; but if, on the contrary, he should find it continue to sink, he must immediately bind up the orifice. Venesection should never be carried to fainting in great venous congestions. During syncope almost all the blood is accumulated in the veins ; and where there has been extreme oppres- sion before the bleeding, throwing a patient into that condition might prove fatal. It most fre- quently happens in cases of this variety, that the blood at first merely trickles from the punctured vessel; but the operator must wait for some time, and he will generally obtain a stream of blood at last. Many a life has probably been lost from binding up the arm too soon, in examples of disease accompanied with excessive congestions of venous blood. When there is a free return of blood to the skin after venesection, warm diluents will be the best drink that can be administered j but when the skin remains cool after venesection, it will mostly be necessary to give the patient small and repeated portions of warm wine and water, until some degree of arterial re-actiou succeed, and then diffusible stimuli of all sorts must be omitted. Immediately after the use of the warm bath, fric- tions, and bleeding, a large stimulating cathartic enema should be injected—an expedient which is more or less beneficial, not only by clearing the