Copy 1, Volume 3

The study of medicine / By John Mason Good ... Improved from the author's manuscripts, and by reference to the latest advances in physiology, pathology, and practice.

  • Good, John Mason, 1764-1827.
Date:
1840
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The study of medicine / By John Mason Good ... Improved from the author's manuscripts, and by reference to the latest advances in physiology, pathology, and practice. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    499/506 (page 493)
    body be weak, any application of cold may prove hurtful.” * It is hence only necessary to add, that while the hot mineral baths appear best adapted to cases of atonic paralysis, cold affusion or the cold bath may be employed with most success in accidental palsies of the plethoric and the vigorous. The ordinary internal stimulants are the mineral waters we have just adverted to, camphor and other tcrebinthinate substances, many of the siliquose and alliaceous plants, as mustard, horse- radish, garlic, and onions, and a temperate use of wine: the whole of which, however, are proscribed in all cases by many writers of great eminence, and particularly Dr. Cullen and Mr. John Hunter: and which, if allowed at all, should be confined to the atonic form of paralysis, or never be commenced, in any instance of entonic palsy, till the system has been sufficiently reduced for the purpose. And where this has been accomplished, such a class of remedies has often been found of essential service. Independently of these, there is a tribe of medicines en- titled also to the name of stimulants. I mean several of the acrid poisons, as arnica montana, or leopard’s bane ; rhus vernix, varnish-sumach; and strychnos, nux vomica. All these excite the nervous system to great agitation and spasmodic action ; and if the dose be increased, violent convulsions, alternating with tetanus, are sure to ensue: and hence it has been supposed, that they may be rendered effectual in a restoration of motivity to paralytic limbs. The flowers of the arnica, or doronicum, as it was once called, were chiefly employed, though sometimes the leaves were preferred. Dr. Collin was much attached to the former in palsies of all kinds, and affirms that he has found them very generally successful. He gave them in an infusion or decoction, in the proportion of from a drachm to half an ounce, to a pint of the liquid f : and, from his recommendation, they were, at one time, very generally adopted, were countenanced by Plenck, and Quarin, and experimented upon by Dr. Home.]: The last tried them in six cases, but with- out much success; and they have not been able to maintain their reputation: nor, from the violence and uncertainty of their effects, is it worth while to revive them. The rhus vernix, or varnish-sumach, is chiefly indebted for what- ever degree of fame it has acquired in paralysis to the recommend- ation of Dr. Fresnoi. The milky juice of this plant is so acrid as to blister the hands of those who gather its leaves, so that they are obliged to wear gloves. The leaves are employed in decoction, and in extract: and appear not only to act powerfully upon the nervous system, but by urine and perspiration ; and hence the plant has a claim to be considered as an active promoter of ab- sorption as well as a revellent, which may, perhaps, render it serviceable in some cases of paralysis from serous compression of the brain. Of its benefit in some other diseases of a spasmodic or nervous character, and especially in hooping cough, we have already spoken. Most of the species of rhus or sumach contain a like pun- gent acridity in their milky juices, and hence several others of * Pract. of Pliys., vol. iv. mclxvi. p. 190. f Observ. circa Morbos Acutos et Chronicos, tom. v. p. 108. J Clinical Experiments, Histories, &c. Edin. 8vo. 1780. Gen. VIII. Spec. VI. Carusparalysis. Treatment. Internal stimulants: proscribed generally by Cullen and J. Hunter: but useful in the atonic form of the disease. Acrid poisons, as arnica montana, rhus vernix, nux vomica. Mode of action, and proposed object in their use. Arnica or doro- nicum first largely recom- mended by Collin : afterwards by Plenck, and Quarin. Tried with little success by Home. Rhus vernix or varnish- sumach, recommended by Fresnoi. Its effects. Other species of rhus possess a like power: