An Account of the Diseases which were most frequent in the British military hospitals in GermanyMonro, Donald
History
An Account of the Diseases which were most frequent in the British military hospitals in Germany
Monro, Donald
Medicine, Military; Military hospitals; Military hygiene; Seven Years' War, 1756-1763 -- Medical care
The Hiccup seldom appeared in this Fever till the Patient was reduced
very low, and was commonly the Forerunner of Death. Some few, who had
a Purging and Vomiting, were taken with a Hiccup, attended with
Sickness, and Load at the Stomach, which seemed to depend on bilious
Humours lodged in the Stomach and Bowels. This induced me to give a
few Grains of the Ipecacuana; and to make the Patients drink an
Infusion of Camomile Flowers till they vomited freely, and afterwards
to take some mild Purge, or use laxative Clysters; after which they
found themselves easier, and an anodyne Draught, with twenty or
twenty-five Drops of the _tinctura thebaica_, put an End to the
Hiccup. Others required the Use of Cordial Draughts, mixed with
Opiates; and repeated Clysters and Fomentations, before they found
Relief.--The Application of a Blister removed the Hiccup in one,
after the above Remedies had proved ineffectual; as did the Musk Julep
with Opium, and the Application of an aromatic Plaister to the
Stomach, in another Patient.
Several of them complained of a burning Heat and Pain in making Water;
which commonly went off by drinking freely of the Gum Arabic
Decoction, with the dulcified Spirit of Nitre, and the Use of oily
Draughts; though in some it required the Assistance of Opiates, and of
Fomentations and Clysters, before it was got the better of.
The Symptom of Worms we were often obliged to neglect till the Fever
was over, and then we treated it as formerly mentioned.
The Deafness, though not near so frequent in this as the Malignant
Fever, was rather a favourable Symptom, and mostly went away of
itself; though in a few Cases, where it continued long, we applied
Blisters behind the Ears, or to the Neck, with Advantage.
Many, especially those who were brought low, complained, after the
Crisis of the Fever, of Restlessness, and Want of Sleep; which,
however, went off as their Strength returned: Where it fatigued them
much, and kept them low, we gave a Cordial anodyne Draught at Night;
and if that did not answer, commonly the Addition of a few Glasses of
Wine in the Afternoon had the desired Effect.
Others, in their convalescent State, complained of such a Giddiness,
and Lightness of the Head, that they could neither walk nor stand;
others, of a Dimness of the Eyes. These Symptoms, for the most part,
went off as the Patients gathered Strength: The Use of the Bark, with
now and then a Glass of Wine, hastened the Cure; and in two or three
Cases we were obliged to give a Dose or two of some gentle Physic, and
to apply a Blister, before the Patient got the better of them.
As the Sick were recovering, it was common for them to complain of
Pains of the Shoulders, Arms, and Legs, which also left them as they
recovered their Strength; where they did not, the saline Draughts, and
a low Diet, generally had a good Effect; and where it had not, we
treated them as rheumatic Complaints.
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