Medical Inquiries and Observations, Vol. 4: The Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged by the AuthorRush, Benjamin
History
Medical Inquiries and Observations, Vol. 4: The Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged by the Author
Rush, Benjamin
Medicine; Yellow fever -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
A great change has taken place in the remedies which are now in common
use in Philadelphia. I shall briefly mention such of them as are new, and
then take notice of the new and different modes of exhibiting such as
were in use between the years 1760 and 1766.
Vaccination has been generally adopted in our city, in preference to
inoculation with variolous matter.
Digitalis, lead, zinc, and arsenic are now common remedies in the hands
of most of our practitioners.
Cold air, cold water, and ice are among the new remedies of modern
practice in Philadelphia.
Blood-letting is now used in nearly all diseases of violent excitement,
not only in the blood-vessels, but in other parts of the body. Its use is
not, as in former times, limited to ounces in specific diseases, but
regulated by their force, and the importance of the parts affected to
health and life; nor is it forbidden, as formerly, in infancy, in extreme
old age, in the summer months, nor in the period of menstruation, where
symptoms of a violent, or of a suffocated disease, manifested by an
active or a feeble pulse, indicate it to be necessary.
Leeches are now in general use in diseases which are removed, by their
seat or local nature, beyond the influence of the lancet. For the
introduction of this excellent remedy into our city we are indebted to
Mr. John Cunitz.
Opium and bark, which were formerly given in disguise, or with a
trembling hand, are now, not only prescribed by physicians, but often
purchased, and taken without their advice, by many of the citizens of
Philadelphia. They even occupy a shelf in the closets of many families.
The use of mercury has been revived, and a salivation has been extended;
with great improvements and success, to nearly all violent and obstinate
diseases. Nor has the influence of reason over ignorance and prejudice,
with respect to that noble medicine, stopped here. Cold water, once
supposed to be incompatible with its use, is now applied to the body, in
malignant fevers, in order to insure and accelerate its operation upon
the salivary glands.
Wine is given in large quantities, when indicated, without the least fear
of producing intoxication.
The warm and cold baths, which were formerly confined chiefly to patients
in the Pennsylvania hospital, are now common prescriptions in private
practice.
Exercise, country air, and the sea shore, are now universally recommended
in chronic diseases, and in the debility which precedes and follows them.
Great pains are now taken to regulate the quantity and quality of
aliments and drinks, by the peculiar state of the system.
Let us now inquire into the influence of the new opinions in medicine,
and the new remedies which have been mentioned, upon human life.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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