The principles of surgery / [James Syme].

  • James Syme
Date:
1832
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The principles of surgery / [James Syme]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    74/752 (page 46)
    Excessive irritation or excitement to act.—Gene- rally speaking, while other things are equal, the vio- lence of inflammation is directly in proportion to the irritation. Whence it follows, that severe injuries, or other great and continued irritations, are apt to occasion mortification. Treatment of Mortification. The prevention of mortification requires the use of means proper for obviating the predisposing causes. If there is general weakness ofvthe system from the use of improper food, or any other cause, it must be reme- died by a more wholesome regimen, and, if necessary, supported in the meantime by the administration of wine, spirits, and other stimuli of speedy operation. If any cause of local weakness exist in operation, it ought if possible to be removed ; ‘and the part which is weak- ened should be protected from all excitement. If there is great irritability depending on strong power of ac- tion, it ought to be lessened by bleeding, purging, tar- trate of antimony, and tobacco injections. And if the irritability is connected with or proceeding from weak- ness, calomel and opium, general and local warm bath- ing, anodynes, and astringents, ought to be admini- stered conjunctly or severally, according to circum- stances. ; When the mortification is completed, the slough should be cut away so far as is practicable, without en- eroaching on the living parts, in order to diminish the fetor; barm poultices are sometimes used with this view, but they generally occasion uneasiness. The