Modern domestic medicine : being a treatise divested of professional terms on the nature, causes, symptoms, and treatment of the diseases of men, women, and children, in both cold and warm climates : with appropriate prescriptions in English : the whole preceded by practical rules for the preservation of health, the best means for invigorating the human body and prolonging life, and the mode of preventing the extension of infectious disorders, as also of annihilating contagion / by Robert Thomas.

  • Thomas, Robert, 1753-1835.
Date:
1829
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Modern domestic medicine : being a treatise divested of professional terms on the nature, causes, symptoms, and treatment of the diseases of men, women, and children, in both cold and warm climates : with appropriate prescriptions in English : the whole preceded by practical rules for the preservation of health, the best means for invigorating the human body and prolonging life, and the mode of preventing the extension of infectious disorders, as also of annihilating contagion / by Robert Thomas. 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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    so as to screen him from the irritation of the light, or any current of air. When open windows cannot be had recourse to, on ac* count of high winds, or other inclemency of the weather, a small lire may be kindled in the grate, to cause a current and frequent renewal of the air in the chamber, without much raising the tem- perature. Another very essential rule to be attended to is, the frequently changing the patient's bed linen as well as that of his body ; and immediately afterwards, carrying them away and putting them in- to a tub covered over with water, into which a handful of lime or potash has been thrown, for the purpose of detaching the animal, matters with which they may be impregnated. All the discharges of the patient should likewise be removed from the chamber as soon as they are voided, and be emptied at a considerable distance, washing the vessel afterwards with boiling water. In short, an unremitting attention to ventilation, a strict observ- ance of cleanliness in every respect, and a separation of the sick, or even those who are suspected, aided by fumigations, conducted in any of the following ways, constitute the whole secret of not only evading the spread of any infectious disease, but likewise the annihilation of the powers of contagion. Fumigating with nitric acid gas is thus effected: put half an ounce of sulphuric acid into a glass, china cup, or saucer, and add to it from time to time some powdered nitre. If the air is very foul, and peculiarly offensive, a gentle heat may be applied under the vessel by means of a lamp or heated sand. On board of ships, the apparatus may be suspended to the beams by waxed silken cords, but in prisons, hospitals, and private houses, it may be plac- ed on the floor at the door of each ward or apartment. When a preference is given to fumigation with muriatic acid gas, this is to be done in the following manner: put one pound of com- mon salt into an earthen vessel of any kind, such as a saucer, and pour over it from time to time a small quantity of sulphuric acid, till the whole is saturated and well moistened. In general, the simple addition of the acid to the salt will be found sufficient to throw up and diffuse the gas throughout the apartment, unless it is very large, in which case, as also in hospitals and prisons, it may be more advisable to apply a moderate heat under the vessel con- taining the acid and salt. It seems of little consequence, which of these two fumigations we employ for the purpose of purifying infected air and destroy- ing contagion, as the powers of both are certain and extensive. The muriatic has, however, been considered as more diffusive than the nitric; but although it is by no means unfit for respiration, still it has been thought by some to produce a slight degree of ir- ritation in the lungs. I have, however, employed it in innumerable instances without any injurious effects whatever being experienced. Another very effectual fumigation is the following, but it requires some nicety in conducting it. Take of manganese in powder, 10