caries. Much mischief is produced by squeezing and bandaging tightly
the inflamed parts, as can readily be understood; yet such practice is
frequently adopted after suppuration. By it the inflammatory action
is excited anew, the formation of matter is very much increased, and
however useful such manipulation may be in stiffness of a joint, or
mere swelling of bursæ, and sheaths of tendons, still, in inflammation
and abscess of bones or joints it is extremely prejudicial, and from
its indiscriminate employment by those ignorant of the profession,
many limbs have been destroyed. General chronic periostitis, which
is produced by exposure to cold, or occurs after or during mercurial
courses, and is often supposed to be a symptom of syphilis, is relieved
by the internal exhibition of the bichloride of mercury, or other
mercurial preparations, combined with sarsaparilla and diaphoretics.
In many instances such an affection will yield to no other treatment;
and thus the practitioner is occasionally obliged to have recourse to
a somewhat paradoxical practice, that of giving mercury for a disease
which seems to have been produced by that mineral.
In inflammation of the short bones or heads of the long bones, if
the action does not yield to topical bleeding and becomes chronic,
counter-irritants must be employed. Blisters repeated are often useful
in subduing the remaining action, and in obstinate cases small caustic
issues are sometimes of service. During the adhesion of the eschar, the
best application is a common poultice or water dressing, which, on the
separation of the dead part, may be exchanged for any simple ointment,
it not being at all desirable in general to check the discharge and
heal up the breach of surface. Moxa is sometimes employed to make an
issue in these and other cases, but it is not superior in any respect
to the potential cautery, whilst its employment is generally very
alarming to the patient. The sores following the use of the moxa are
in some instances tedious in healing; and this may be ascribed to
the vitality of the surrounding parts having been diminished by the
application.
In cases of atrophy of bone, and where there is reason to suspect
the scrofulous or tubercular deposit to be going on, the affected
part should not be much used, and means taken to give tone to the
system. Preparations of iron are often exhibited with advantage. The
combination of iodine with iron may sometimes answer. Abscesses should
be opened early, so as to prevent extension of the mischief. In abscess
in the shafts of the long bones, it is occasionally necessary to make
an opening through the outer lamella by the trephine, so as to evacuate
its contents. Some instructive cases have been given by Sir B. Brodie,
illustrative of the good effects of this practice. I subjoin one out of
many from my own hospital practice.
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