Hydriatic treatment of Scarlet Fever in its Different FormsMunde, Charles
Science
Hydriatic treatment of Scarlet Fever in its Different Forms
Munde, Charles
Hydrotherapy; Scarlatina
consisting in the free use of emetics or purgatives, has been
recommended by some eminent practitioners. Withering,[9] Tissot, Kennedy
and others are in favor of the former, and find fault with the latter,
whilst Hamilton,[10] Willard, Abernethy, Gregory, &c., prefer
purgatives, and some, of course, look upon calomel as the anchor of
safety, which they recommend in quantities of from five to ten grains
per hour.[11] The friends of one part of the anti-gastric method make
war upon the other: Withering finding purgatives entirely out of place
and Sandwith, Fothergill and others having seen nothing but harm done by
them, whilst Wendt,[12] Berndt,[13] Heyfelder and others caution their
readers against emetics. The anti-gastric method has been of some
service in epidemics and individual cases, when the character of the
disease was decidedly gastric and bilious. To use emetics or purgatives
indiscriminately would do much more harm than good; as, for instance,
during a congestive condition of the brain, the former, and with
inflammatory symptoms of the bowels, the latter, would be almost sure to
sacrifice the patient to the method.
36. THE AMMONIUM CARBONICUM,
recommended by Peart,[14] has been considered by many as a specific
capable of neutralizing the scarlatinous poison, whilst others have used
it only as a powerful tonic in torpid cases. Experience has shown that
it is not a specific, and that its use as a tonic, requiring a great
deal of care and discrimination, is a good deal more dangerous than the
mode of treatment I am going to recommend in cases where tonics are
required.
37. CHLORIDE OF LIME.
About the same opinion may be given on _Chloride of Lime_. As a gargle,
and taken internally, the aqua-chlorina has done good service in
malignant scarlatina, especially in putrid cases.
38. ACETIC ACID.
Brown[15] recommends diluted _Acetic Acid_ as a specific against all
forms of scarlatina. Experience, however, has not supported his
confidence in the infallibility of his remedy.
39. MINERAL ACIDS (MURIATIC ACID--PRESCRIPTIONS)
have also been used with good effect in some epidemics. _Muriatic acid_
I have frequently used myself for inflammation of the throat, in
connection with hydriatic treatment, and it has almost always
contributed to relieve the symptoms materially.[16]
40. FRICTIONS WITH LARD
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