Domestic medicine : a treatise on the practice of medicine, adapted to the reformed system, comprising a materia medica / by J. Kost.

  • Kost, J., 1819-1904.
Date:
1859
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Domestic medicine : a treatise on the practice of medicine, adapted to the reformed system, comprising a materia medica / by J. Kost. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    is not observed, this disease is always found to be much more prevalent. It is stated, that during the campaigns of the French against Russia, the typhus contagion, which was generated in the hospitals and houses crowded with prisoners and the sick, was communicated to the inhabitants along the road by which the soldiers returned; and that the disease from this, afterward, spread gradually into the adjacent districts, until it became very common. The route of the army, return- ing from Poland through Germany, could be readily traced by the desolating train of the disease that fol- lowed. The difference between the malaria that generate typhus and remittent or intermittent fevers, is, that the latter arises from the decomposition of vegetables, while the former is caused by the decomposition of animal matter. But whatever the character of the contagion may be, it is certain that unless there be a want of vital resistance, which thus subjects the system to its influ- ence, those exposed to the contagion will pass with impunity. Every cause of debility, such as blood- letting, the use of poisonous minerals, drastic purges, cold, fatigue, &c, must be carefully avoided. The prevalence of the disease is much enhanced by a cer- tain train of circumstances that are generally to be witnessed in all families which this disease has invaded. Such is the dread entertained for it, that as soon as a member of a family is taken down with it, all hearts fail, despondency impairs the conservative power, the appe- tite declines, sleep flees away, and a permanent debility sets in. This state of things illy qualifies persons to go through the hardships and fatigues brought upon the friends of the sick, by their solicitude and anxiety. If now the chamber or sick room is neglected, and not sufficiently ventilated and cleansed, those thus exposed are almost certain to contract the affection. But all this need not happen, if proper precaution be observed and it is remembered that collateral circumstances alone make this disease contagious. Abatement of the heat and thirst, moisture of the surface, and cleansing of the tongue, but especially the subsidence of the delirium and stupor, may be regarded as favorable symptoms.