Medical Inquiries and Observations, Vol. 3: The Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged by the AuthorRush, Benjamin
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Medical Inquiries and Observations, Vol. 3: The Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged by the Author
Rush, Benjamin
Medicine; Yellow fever -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
Let it not be supposed, that I mean that the history which I have given
of the method of cure of this epidemic, should be applied, in all its
parts, to the yellow fevers which may appear hereafter in the United
States, or which exist at all times in the West-India islands. Season and
climate vary this, as well as all other diseases. Bark and wine, so fatal
in this, may be proper in a future yellow fever. But in the climate of
the United States, I believe it will seldom appear with such symptoms of
prostration and weakness, as not to require, in its first stage,
evacuations of some kind.
The only inquiry, when the disease makes its appearance, should be, from
what part of the body these evacuations should be procured; the order
which should be pursued in obtaining them; and the quantity of each of
the matters to be discharged, which should be withdrawn at a time.
Thus far did I venture, from my theory of the disease, and from the
authorities of Dr. Hillary and Dr. Mosely, to decide in favour of
evacuations in the yellow fever; but Dr. Wade, and Mr. Chisholm again
support me by their practice in the fevers of the East and West-Indies.
They both gave strong mercurial purges, and bled in some cases. Dr. Wade
confirmed, by his practice, the advantage of _gradually_ abstracting
stimulus from the system. He never drew blood, even in the most
inflammatory cases, until he had first discharged the contents of the
bowels. The doctor has further established the efficacy of a vegetable
diet and of water as a drink, as the best means of preventing the disease
in a hot climate.
The manner in which the miasmata that produce the plague act upon the
system is so much like that which has been described in the yellow fever,
and the accounts of the efficacy of low diet, in preparing the body for
its reception, and of copious bleeding, cold air, and cold water, in
curing it, are so similar, that all the directions which relate to
preventing, mitigating, or curing the yellow fever may be applied to it.
The fluids in the plague show a greater tendency to the skin, than they
do in the yellow fever. Perhaps, upon this account, the early use of
powerful sudorifics may be more proper in the former than in the latter
disease. From the influence of early purging and bleeding in promoting
sweats in the yellow fever, there can be little doubt but the efforts of
nature to unload the system in the plague, through the channel of the
pores, might be accelerated by the early use of the same remedies. One
thing, with respect to the plague, is certain, that its cure depends upon
the abstraction of stimulus, either by means of plentiful sweats, or of
purulent matter from external sores. Perhaps the efficacy of these
remedies depends wholly upon their elevating the system from its
prostrated state in a _gradual_ manner. If this be the case, those
natural discharges might be easily and effectually imitated by small and
repeated bleedings.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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