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
This disorder chiefly affects the membrane which lines the inner cavity
of the ear called the _meatus auditorius_. It is often so violent as to
occasion great restlessness, anxiety, and even delirium. Sometimes
epileptic fits, and other convulsive disorders, have been brought on by
extreme pain in the ear.
The ear-ach may proceed from any of the causes which produce
inflammation. It often proceeds from a sudden suppression of
perspiration, or from the head being exposed to cold when covered with
sweat. It may also be occasioned by worms, or other insects getting into
the ear, or being bred there; or from any hard body sticking in the ear.
Sometimes it proceeds from the translation of morbific matter to the
ear. This often happens in the decline of malignant fevers, and
occasions deafness, which is generally reckoned a favourable symptom.
When the ear-ach proceeds from insects, or any hard body sticking in the
ear, every method must be taken to remove them as soon as possible. The
membranes may be relaxed by dropping into the ear oil of sweet almonds,
or olive oil. Afterwards the patient should be made to sneeze, by taking
snuff, or some strong sternutatory. If this should not force out the
body, it must be extracted by art. I have seen insects, which had got
into the ear, come out of their own accord upon pouring in oil, which is
a thing they cannot bear.
When the pain of the ear proceeds from inflammation, it must be treated
like other topical inflammations, by a cooling regimen, and opening
medicines. Bleeding at the beginning, either in the arm or jugular vein,
or cupping in the neck, will be proper. The ear may likewise be fomented
with steams of warm water; or flannel bags filled with boiled mallows
and camomile flowers may be applied to it warm; or bladders filled with
warm milk and water. An exceeding good method of fomenting the ear is to
apply it close to the mouth of a jug filled with warm water, or a strong
decoction of camomile flowers.
The patient’s feet should be frequently bathed in lukewarm water, and he
ought to take small doses of nitre and rhubarb, _viz._ a scruple of the
former, and ten grains of the latter, three times a-day. His drink may
be whey, or decoction of barley and liquorice with figs or raisins. The
parts behind the ear ought frequently to be rubbed with camphorated oil,
or a little of the volatile liniment.
When the inflammation cannot be discussed, a poultice of bread and milk,
or roasted onions, may be applied to the ear, and frequently renewed,
till the abscess breaks, or can be opened. Afterwards the humours may be
diverted from the part by gentle laxatives, blisters, or issues; but the
discharge must not be suddenly dried up by any external application.
PAIN OF THE STOMACH, &c.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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