Alcohol: A Dangerous and Unnecessary Medicine, How and Why: What Medical Writers SayAllen, Martha Meir
Science
Alcohol: A Dangerous and Unnecessary Medicine, How and Why: What Medical Writers Say
Allen, Martha Meir
Alcohol -- Physiological effect; Temperance
APOPLEXY:--"There is a popular idea that whenever a person is
taken ill with giddiness, fainting or insensibility, brandy
should be at once procured and poured down his throat. Nothing
can be more dangerous in apoplexy. This disease is due to the
bursting of some blood-vessel in the head, and the poured-out
blood presses on the brain and leads to more or less
insensibility. If fainting occurs, it may possibly save the
patient's life, because then the blood-vessels contract, and the
flow of blood ceases immediately; time is thus given for the
ruptured blood-vessel to became sealed up by a clot, which will
prevent further loss of blood. If brandy is given, there is,
first, great risk of choking the patient; if that danger is
escaped and the brandy is swallowed and absorbed, the vessels
become relaxed and the heart recovers its force; hence the
ruptured vessel, if not sufficiently sealed by clot, may be
started again, and fatal hemorrhage result.
"The only _treatment_ which unskilled hands can adopt is to lay
the patient on his back on the floor or sofa with the head and
shoulders somewhat raised; to loosen all the dress round the
neck and body; to apply cold to the head and hot flannels or a
hot bottle to the feet and hands, or to soak them in hot mustard
and water, and to gently rub the arms and legs."--DR. J. J.
RIDGE.
Dr. Alfred Smee, surgeon to the Bank of England, says:--
"Give nothing by the mouth. Apply a stream of cold water to the
head. If the feet are cold apply warm cloths. If relief is not
soon obtained, apply hot fomentations to the abdomen, keeping
the head erect."
BED-SORES:--Some object to using alcohol even as an outward application.
Dr. Ridge recommends that when a patient is confined to bed the parts
pressed on be well washed every day with strong salt and water or alum
water, and carefully dried. _Glycerine of Tannin_ may then be applied.
If any redness appears, especially if any dusky patch is formed,
_collodion_ may be applied with a brush, and all pressure should be
taken off the part by a circular air-pillow or by a cushion; or small
bran or sand-bags may be made and carefully arranged. If the skin is
broken, _zinc_ or _resin ointment_ may be applied.
Some recommend finely powdered iodoform sprinkled over the surface of
the sore.
BOILS AND CARBUNCLE:--"In many cases these troubles result from
an overloaded condition of the system, which is the result of
taking too much food, or some error in diet. The boils are an
effort of nature to be rid of offending matter. In some cases
they are due to the use of impure water, or the presence of
sewer gas in the house. In others, overwork, or other
debilitating causes, may have produced the state of the
digestive organs which usually causes the boils. Carbuncle is,
essentially, an extensive boil.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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