British Encyclopedia

Article -- Medicine

(p11) Hereditary incurable. No general principles, because its precise action not known. Recoveries mostly a natural convalescence. Some medicines aid a natural termination, others make an artificial one. When from the dregs of diseases, not to evacuate: nourishing diet, clear air, exercise, and time. Blood from the arm or jugulars; or if too weak, cups to the occiput. Dr. Monro recommends vomiting: vinum ipecacuanhæ in the weakly; in the robust, tartar emetic and antimonial wine. Best cathartics, tincture of Hellebore, or infusion of senna with tincture of jalap. Aloetics if suppressed menses or Haemorrhoids. Sometimes saline purgatives, as tartrate of potash. Large doses both of cathartics and emetics. Increasing the urine, especially if there be fever. Cutaneous discharges by the hot bath: Hoffmann teas seen numerous cases of both melancholy and mania cured by this, (p12) bleeding and nitrous medicines being premised. Camphor; but, according to Dr. Locher, of Vienna, useless. He used one to one and a half ounces of vinegar or distilled vinegar a day. Reprobates chains and stripes : strait waistcoat answers every purpose ; legs, if violent, may be secured in a bag. Patient may be confined on his back by a girth-web across the breast; legs may be secured by ligatures to the foot of the bed. Amusements to be suited to the patient's disposition. They can be awed by a menacing look, and, once impressed with fear, submit to anything. Physician should never deceive, especially as to disease, for they are conscious of it, and reverence those who know it. The merry to be repressed by chiding; amusements for the sorrowful. Mead repudiates blisters, and recommends issues on the back. Warm vinegar on shaved head. Opium has not been tried sufficiently to test it. Regular hours. Diet to be light, and not too low, especially as regards those under a course of medicine. When the disease is subdued, the cold bath.