Illustrations of pulmonary consumption : its anatomical characters, causes, symptoms and treatment. To which are added, some remarks on the climate of the United States, the West Indies, &c.

  • Morton, Samuel George, 1799-1851.
Date:
1837
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Illustrations of pulmonary consumption : its anatomical characters, causes, symptoms and treatment. To which are added, some remarks on the climate of the United States, the West Indies, &c. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

    253/390 (page 247)
    conveniently done, to use the refuse bark of a tan-yard, taking care, however, to change it frequently. I have myself no recollection of having ever seen a tanner in consumption, not even in the public institution with which I am connected: but I question whether a pa- tient would derive much benefit from the aroma, unless he conjoined with it the hardy exercise of that trade.* SETONS, ISSUES, &C. In resorting to these drains, we but imitate nature in her modes of relieving disease. The spontaneous occur- rence of a diarrhoea often suspends the cough for many days; emesis,(as in sea-sickness,) fistula inano,an eruptive disease, and other affections, act in the same manner: but as they can seldom be restricted within salutary limits, and arc painful and annoying to the patient, it is mostly desirable to substitute in their place, some more manage- able and more local irritation. Where pain, oppression, or other irritating affections are located, as frequently happens, beneath the clavicles, a caustic issue affords the speediest relief. In using the caustic I adopt a common plan, that of making a circular hole, one inch in diameter, in a piece of soft leather; by placing the latter on the skin, and, then applying the caustic potash rubbed to a paste w ith soap, the irritation is readily circumscribed. Patients are variously affected • Dr. Chalmers long ago recommended inhalation from a strong decoctiou of oak and Peruvian bark, moderately impregnated with the acid or dulcified spirit of vitriol.—Diseases of South Carolina, vol. ii. p. 124. 1776.