An Account of the Sore Throat Attended With Ulcers: A Disease Which Hath of Late Years Appeared in This City, and in Several Parts of the NationFothergill, John
History
An Account of the Sore Throat Attended With Ulcers: A Disease Which Hath of Late Years Appeared in This City, and in Several Parts of the Nation
Fothergill, John
Diphtheria
Warm aromatic and gently stimulating Medicines, such as have, been
already mention'd, as the most effectual to suppress the Vomiting, and
check the Looseness attending this Disease, have likewise been found
useful in removing the present Complaint: And tho' the Degree of Heat,
and Quickness of the Pulse, would be enough to dissuade a Person who has
not seen the Disease, from giving them in so liberal a manner as
Necessity requires; yet we are not to be governed so much by these
Symptoms, as by the Faintness, Depression of the Pulse, and Increase of
Putrescency in the _Fauces_. One Drachm of the _Confectio Raleighana_
has been given to a Youth not quite 15 Years of Age, every four Hours,
which was soon follow'd by a sensible Amendment, and the Decrease of the
Patient's Restlessness, Faintness, and Heat.
Some of the _Italian_ Physicians forbad the Use of Wine in the Cure of
this Disease, and the Warmth of that Climate might perhaps make this
Caution necessary; but as it is a generous Cordial, and at the same time
antiseptic, it seems to be in no respect improper here; and, besides in
Whey, I have allow'd it to be given, in small Quantities, mixed with
Mint, Baum, or Sage-Tea, Barley-Water, Gruel, Panada, Sago, and
suchlike; and alone, where the Faintness has been excessive; the Age,
the former Way of Life, and the Symptoms, affording the necessary Rules
as to Quantity and Kind. Chicken-Water, or thin Broth, may also be
allow'd; which is frequently very acceptable to the Patient. And I don't
remember to have observed so general and early an Inclination after
solid Food, in any acute Disease, as in this: For at a time when one
would imagine, both from the Condition of the _Fauces_, and the Degree
of Heat, that Liquids would be the most acceptable, it is not uncommon
to find Children, who have this Disease, extremely desirous of Chicken,
and chearfully complying with Directions, in hopes of being gratified in
this respect.
Blisters are likewise of Use to relieve the Faintness. At first I was in
Doubt, lest the Flies, by their Acrimony, should increase the putrescent
Disposition, and consequently aggravate the Disorder they were intended
to remove: but no such Effect having appeared from their Use, I have
order'd them to be applied, and I think with Advantage, both to the
usual Parts, and to the Neck on each Side from below the Ear almost to
the Clavicle, as Occasion required.
The Ulcers in the Throat demand our early and constant Attention, as a
considerable Loss of Substance cannot here be suffer'd without immediate
Danger to Life itself, or the most pernicious Consequences to the future
Action of the Parts, if the Patient survives.
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