The treatment of pneumococcic infection of the lung, or croupous pneumonia : a clinical lecture delivered at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania / by John H. Musser.

  • Musser, John Herr, 1856-1912.
Date:
1904
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The treatment of pneumococcic infection of the lung, or croupous pneumonia : a clinical lecture delivered at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania / by John H. Musser. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    renders the prognosis at least anxious), we have no certain means of increasing the number of the leukocytes. Treatment based upon the History.—From the social his- tory of our patient we may sometimes derive indications for treat- ment. Thus, in the old, we resort more quickly to stimulants than in the young, and we give larger amounts of alcohol to alcoholic subjects. The previous medical history of the patient, such as a previous attack of endocarditis, or a previous attack of pneumo- coccic infection itself, causes us to modify both our prognosis and our treatment accordingly. And the same may he said, also, of certain facts that we derive from the family history of the patient. It is doubtless known to you that some families seem especially sus- ceptible to infection with the pneumococcus, and that the members of such families are more likely to die than others. In this respect our prognosis and our treatment must be modified. Finally, I need only say that the diet of your patient ill with a pneumococcic infection should be substantial, nourishing, easily digested. Fluids, especially milk, are preferable in the early days, but later certain soft articles may be added. In conclusion, I beg you to remember that each case of pneumo- coccic infection is a law unto itself; that as yet we have no routine treatment upon which we can rely as we do upon the cold-bath treatment in typhoid fever; that we must treat each patient partly with reference to the peculiarities of the infection, partly with reference to his or her personal idiosyncrasies, and partly with reference to the complications that may arise; and that therefore you should have at your command abundant resources that will enable you to change your treatment from day to day should the exigencies of the case demand it.