On medicinal inhalations, with description of an improved apparatus for the production of medicated vapours / by James Adams, M.D.
- James Maxwell Adams
- Date:
- 1868
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: On medicinal inhalations, with description of an improved apparatus for the production of medicated vapours / by James Adams, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.
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![the late sulphur mania—for it deserves no other name—in ex- pressing my opinion that the agent was useful; and that Dr. Dewar deserved great credit for his earnest and persevering efforts in directing the attention of the profession to several novel and useful applications of the remedy; but that it was most preposterously over- lauded—that its excessive popularity would have a short day—and that some injury and many grievous disappointments would remain en souvenir. My experience of the remedy, in some of its principal appli- cations to medicine in the way of inhalation, and without any reference to sui-gica] ailments, may be shortly stated. Individuals whose general health was good, and who have re- sorted to the sulphur inhalations on account of such slight forms of Catarrh as usually receive little or no medical treatment, except it may be a sweating powder, or a warm bath, have been the most liberal in their acknowledgments of benefit. It did really seem to me that some cases were relieved or shortened in their progress by the treatment. In Acute Bronchitis I have seen a copious secretion of serous or watery fluid cast off from the air passages at an unusually early stage of the disease, and this effect was evidently induced by the inhalations, and was followed by marked relief In Chronic Coughs it has frequently acted powerfully in exciting forcibly expiration, and in inducing a more copious expectoration. From these results I am of opinion that in Catarrh, acute Bronchitis, and Chronic Coughs, the remedy stimulates the- minute exhaling vessels, the bronchial surface seems to be both sweated and purged, and the tough, viscid phlegm which collects in the bronchi is dislodged more freely and effectively than occurs under the use of ordinary expectorants, administered in the usual way. But I have found no notable difference nor any advantage in use in the Sulphurous Acid over common Vinegar or solution of Chlorine administered by inhalation in like cases. In a few opportunities I have tried it in Asthma, but have not found that the inhalations were tolerated or continued, partly on account of marked distress which they occasioned, and partly because no evident relief was obtained dm'ing the paroxysms. In Phthisis its effect seems to be altogether that of a topical expectorant, but I have not seen any decided lessening of the amount of expectoration. Cases of inflammatory sore throat have not been benefitted, but in the hoarseness following the acute stage of a cold I have seen improvement and relief](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21464522_0016.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
