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
Perspiration, sweat and urine, are the natural evacuations intended, for
the purifying the system from animal acrimony; and when these excretions
are in a just balance with the secretions of the fluids and motion in
the system, without pain or fatigue; then nature is at peace with
itself.
Lastly, I must observe, that the stomach is an organ which, by the
nervous consent, carries on an immediate correspondence with every part
in the human fabric; whence this viscera should likewise ever be
consulted in fevers; that is, never to impose on it any aliment against
its own inclination and appetite.
The want of appetite in a fever is a natural cause, and very often is in
the patient’s favour; but the mistaken notion, that a patient must eat,
even against his inclination, in order to recover strength, is not only
highly absurd, but has been the destruction of many, who otherwise would
have recovered, had they with patience waited the kind dictates of
Nature.
Let the system be free from diseases, and the stomach will soon crave
food, when there is a probability that the aliment may be converted into
good blood; but whatever is forced into the stomach before that time,
will instead of nourishing the body, only add fuel to the destructive
fire, and encrease the already malignant blood.
Upon the principles of these observations, I shall lay down the rules
that should be religiously observed in accidental fevers; and when they
are well considered, we shall find that they will hold good also in all
other kind of fevers, notwithstanding they arise from internal acrimony
of the body; for the difference is barely this, whether the fire is
kindled within or from without;—but to proceed.
Whatever then be the accident, a fall, a wound, a fracture, dislocation,
bruise, &c. observe what the patient was before the accident.
If the patient was a stout hearty man, it naturally follows, that the
fibres of his body were also in a rigid robust state; and the quantity
and richness of the blood was in a due proportion; for this very reason,
health being at such an _acmé_, a fever is the more to be feared, and
ought studiously to be avoided.
If this patient has not lost any blood by the accident, by all means
bleed him; but never exceed eight ounces at farthest; it is as much as
the strongest man ought to lose at once.
In the next place, perspiration should be the principal object in view.
To this end, let the patient immediately after bleeding go to rest, and
take a dose of the _Fever Powder_ (L); upon which let him drink plenty
of _Balm Tea_ (12); which will generally bring on a perspiration.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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