Clinical observations on the use of opium in low fevers, and in the synochus : illustrated by cases : with some previous remarks on the epidemic fever, which prevailed in 1785 at Oxford, and in the neighbouring counties : in a letter to John Badeley, M.D. ... / by Martin Wall, M.D.

Martin Wall

Date:: 1786

Credit: Clinical observations on the use of opium in low fevers, and in the synochus : illustrated by cases : with some previous remarks on the epidemic fever, which prevailed in 1785 at Oxford, and in the neighbouring counties : in a letter to John Badeley, M.D. ... / by Martin Wall, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by University of Bristol Library. The original may be consulted at University of Bristol Library.

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$might have directed us to the ufe of opium more generally in thefe fevers, if we had been more watchful to obferve and to apply the relations of its fuccefsful employment in fi- milar or allied diforders. It has now been long known, that opium has an almofl fpeci- fic effect in calming the agitation of the fpi- rits, in moderating the heat, in abating the quicknefs of the pulfe, relieving pain and ^ headach, inducing calm refrefliing fleep, and (hortening the paroxyfm, when it is given at the accemon of the hot fit of an intermittent. The refemblance of its operation to that of wine, fo repeatedly demonftrated, point it obfervation in Dr. Mackittrick Adair % Medical Cautions, which ftrongly fupports my opinon. As it is the aflertion of a Ve- teran in the fervice, taught by long experience in the art, I fhall aflume it as my defence. Speaking of Empiricifm and Quackery, he fays, Were I to enumerate all the initances within my own knowledge, of {the dangerous and fatal ef- fetts of a mifapplication of the moft powerful of thefc M noftrums, the detail would be almoft incredible: a few in- ftances may fuffice. Jamtss Powder, though ccnfeffedly be- neficial in certain ftages of inflammatory difeafes, has, not unfrequently, vomited, purged, or fweated to death perfons M labouring under low, malignant and putrid fevers, who *' might have been faved by a liberal ufe of the Bark, Snake. root and Wine. He fubjoins a note in illuftration of this affertion, which, as being rather too perfonal, though ffrohgly corroborative of this doctrine, I chufe to omit. Medical Cau- tions, p. 142. C out$