An essay on epidemics, as they appeared in Dutchess County, from 1809 to 1825. Also a paper on diseases of the jaw-bones; with an appendix, containing an account of the epidemic cholera as it apeared in Poughkeepsie in 1832 / By Hunting Sherrill.

  • Sherrill, Hunting, 1783-1866.
Date:
1832
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay on epidemics, as they appeared in Dutchess County, from 1809 to 1825. Also a paper on diseases of the jaw-bones; with an appendix, containing an account of the epidemic cholera as it apeared in Poughkeepsie in 1832 / By Hunting Sherrill. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    character. Dr. Mann informs us, that in the vicinity of the army in different places, among the inhabitants, sudorifics, cordials, stimulants, opium, calo- mel, &c. were remedies generally resorted to, and that the deaths, under the stimulating plan, was one half, or thereabouts; under other modes of treat- ment, without evacuations, the deaths were rather less, but very numerous ; but that in the army, where the evacuating and depleting plan was followed, the fatal cases were frem one in twenty to one in forty. In the army the patient could always be seen early after the attack, and be regularly disci- plined in the treatment; in private practice there is always some intempe- rate and ungovernable cases, that neglect or resist the remedies ; deduct those from the number treated, and the result would be about the same in this country, as in the army; and in regard to the prevailing epidemic, if a comparison was drawn between the modes of treatment, the result would be very similar. (B.) The practice of wetting the face and temples with liquid substance in this state of the cases, as well as in most other instances, with an inten- tion of relieving fainting, or aiding in a difficulty of respiration, is erroneous and injurious ; the application of liquids to the face, by the evaporation pro- duced, carries off heat, and increases the coldness of the skin ; all the be- nefit derived from such remedies, is the vital air the patient obtains by breathing, or the stimulus added to the system in the same way. A cloth wet in warm vinegar held near the nose, is the best remedy that can be ob- tained in such emergencies, or any other material used in the same way ; the best application to the face, is to rub it with a warm dry flannel ; with those remedies applied in this way, [ have done much toward removing the blueness from the face, and in aiding the reaction of the system. - To explain some remarks, it is necessary to state that when the disease broke out in the Poor House, I attended there about four days in counsel, after that I only called oc- casionally as a spectator. : ERRATA. Page 9, line 20, for congealed read coagulated. 5, 13, for apparent read aperient. 16, 12, for form read from 91, 17, for than other read than any other. 32, 15, for shiny read slimy. 32, 3 from bottom, for full read fell.