Domestic medicine : $b or, a treatise on the prevention and cure of diseases by regimen and simple medicines. With an appendix, containing a dispensatory for the use of private practitionersBuchan, William
Science
Domestic medicine : $b or, a treatise on the prevention and cure of diseases by regimen and simple medicines. With an appendix, containing a dispensatory for the use of private practitioners
Buchan, William
Medicine, Popular -- Early works to 1800
SYMPTOMS.——It begins with alternate fits of shivering and heat. The
pulse is quick, but low and unequal, and generally continues so through
the whole course of the disease. The patient complains greatly of
weakness and oppression of the breast, his spirits are low, and he is
apt to faint away when set upright; he is troubled with a nausea, and
often with a vomiting or purging. The two latter are most common in
children. The eyes appear red and watery, and the face swells. The urine
is at first pale and crude; but, as the disease advances, it turns more
of a yellowish colour. The tongue is white, and generally moist, which
distinguishes this from an inflammatory disease. Upon looking into the
throat it appears swelled, and of a florid red colour. Pale or
ash-coloured spots, however, are here and there interspersed, and
sometimes one broad patch or spot, of an irregular figure, and pale
white colour, surrounded with florid red, only appears. These whitish
spots or sloughs cover so many ulcers.
An efflorescence, or eruption upon the neck, arms, breast, and fingers,
about the second or third day, is a common symptom of this disease. When
it appears, the purging and vomiting generally cease.
There is often a slight degree of delirium, and the face frequently
appears bloated, and the inside of the nostrils red and inflamed. The
patient complains of a disagreeable putrid smell, and his breath is very
offensive.
The putrid, ulcerous sore throat may be distinguished from the
inflammatory by the vomiting and looseness with which it is generally
ushered in; the foul ulcers in the throat covered with a white or livid
coat; and by the excessive weakness of the patient; with other symptoms
of a putrid fever.
Unfavourable symptoms are, an obstinate purging, extreme weakness,
dimness of the sight, a livid or black colour of the spots, and frequent
shiverings, with a weak, fluttering pulse. If the eruption upon the skin
suddenly disappears, or becomes of a livid colour, with a discharge of
blood from the nose or mouth, the danger is very great.
If a gentle sweat break out about the third or fourth day, and continue
with a slow, firm, and equal pulse; if the sloughs cast off in a kindly
manner, and appear clean and florid at the bottom; and if the breathing
is soft and free, with a lively colour of the eyes, there is reason to
hope for a salutary crisis.
REGIMEN.——The patient must be kept quiet, and for the most part in bed,
as he will be apt to faint when taken out of it. His food must be
nourishing and restorative; as sago-gruel with red wine, jellies, strong
broths, &c. His drink ought to be generous, and of an antiseptic
quality; as red-wine negus, white-wine whey, and such like.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account