The Seaman's Medical Instructor: In a Course of Lectures on Accidents and Diseases Incident to SeamenFalck, N. D. (Nikolai Detlef)
Science
The Seaman's Medical Instructor: In a Course of Lectures on Accidents and Diseases Incident to Seamen
Falck, N. D. (Nikolai Detlef)
First aid in illness and injury -- Early works to 1800; Medicine, Popular -- Early works to 1800
This method I pursued with a gentleman, and a little boy in New-York,
who both were bit by the same dog, without provocation, the dog having
never attempted the like before; upon which he was immediately shot, and
was found to have all the signs of madness.——The accident happened at
noon, and I was immediately sent for; but not being in the way, my
assistant dressed it with basilicon, and laid over it a compress with
_spirit of wine and Camphor_, supposing it of no consequence, as the
wound was but very small. But on my hearing of it in the evening, I went
that moment to their assistance, removed the dressing and applied what I
have before mentioned.
I was not mistaken, for the sore and all around, after some time grew
angry, and had an unfavourable appearance; but with diligent attendance
gradually became better.—— The little boy was bit deeper than the
gentleman; His wounds were on both sides of the _tendo achillis_: But
the gentleman’s wound was a little above the _maleolus externus_ on the
right leg, inclining to the _tendo achillis_.
It was in the month of July—I ordered bathing every morning and night,
which suited the season. In the mean time, during three months, I gave
one grain of calomel every morning and night; and every thing succeeded
to our wishes.
But to return; should the mercurial medicines go to the mouth, a gentle
cathartic will divert this, for I am an utter enemy to salivation. If
however these remedies are administered too late, so that,
notwithstanding all those applications, the patient should grow
melancholy, have a difficulty in breathing, and a sore throat; but
especially a pain in the sore, or bitten part, recourse should be had to
frequent cold bathing, or rather plunging; mercurials should be
continued, and every method pursued as will be advised in the putrid
malignant fevers.
Should the patient however be seized with madness, care should be taken
that those about him have no wounds where the least of his spittle may
be introduced; and that the deplorable patient is rendered incapable to
make any wounds or mischief on himself, or those who attend him; as he
will be apt to snap and bite about him like a dog. He should be sewed up
in a hammock, to which his arms should also be confined: in this method
he may, by help of a tackle, be plunged up and down in the sea, but not
his head under water. This is far superior to the unnatural and cruel
way of smothering with beds, where the patient has no chance at all
left.
The subject is melancholy; but, willing to contribute all the relief in
my power to the distressed, I have been insensibly led on; and summed up
all that might promise success. Innumerable are the remedies delivered
to us, but few prove successful if the case be real.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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