On the treatment of scarlet fever and measles, with sesqui-carbonate of ammonia / by Thomas J. Graham, M.D.

  • Graham, Thomas John, 1795?-1876.
Date:
1861
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the treatment of scarlet fever and measles, with sesqui-carbonate of ammonia / by Thomas J. Graham, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    TEEATMENT OF SCAELET EEVEE AND MEASLES, WITH SESQUT-CARBONATE OF AMMONIA. BY THOMAS J. GEAHAM, M.D., Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh. n/r 1 ^ meeting of the Epidemiological Society, on TatrK ^^1^^ appeared in a recent number of the Lancet (btli April, 1861) it IS stated that an eminent Metropolitan phy- sician Dr. Babmgton, then said, Few diseases were so Httle amenable to treatment as scarlet feyer in a severe form. This is undoubtedly true under the usual means employed; but It is an important question, are those means the best ? I think not. lilood-letting, bark and acids, emetics, purgatives, diaphoretics, calomel and antimony, contrayerva with squills, cold affusion, and himigation, are not to be depended on. They have been extensively used and still continue to be trusted to, often without the least good ettect. No wonder, then, that scarlet fever in a severe form, still continues to be so Httle amenable to treatment, and that the conse- quences of even slight cases are sometimes so cUsastrous and fatal. Nevertheless, I believe there is abundant evidence before the profession to prove that in the sesqui-carbonate of ammonia a Bene- ficent Providence has provided a remedy of specific poivers in scarlet fever and measles; but that it is not employed and trusted to as it ments. It has always been ranged by medical wi-iters in the class 01 neurotics, stimulants, or nerve-medicines, and this error appears to be a principal cause of the prevalent want of confidence in its use m these and some other diseases. In internal use, dissolved in water. It does not, in an ordinary dose, accelerate the pulse, or produce any of the usual sensible effects of stimulants, but it has the property of & restorative; it gradually restores the strength without stimulating the_ system. It is difficult to understand what medical Alters mean with respect to the action of nerve-mecHcines. Per- naps tne general notion is that ammonia affects the body through TirVf +'1''''/ ^^'^ shadow of a pool, tUp tact is, that ammonia is carried directly into the blood, improves its quaUty, and beneficially affects the nerves through the