Copy 2

A manual of the climate and diseases, of tropical countries; in which a practical view of the statistical pathology, and of the history and treatment of the diseases of those countries, is attempted to be given ... as a guide to the young ... practitioner on his first resorting to those countries / By Colin Chisholm.

  • Colin Chisholm
Date:
1822
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A manual of the climate and diseases, of tropical countries; in which a practical view of the statistical pathology, and of the history and treatment of the diseases of those countries, is attempted to be given ... as a guide to the young ... practitioner on his first resorting to those countries / By Colin Chisholm. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the time ; consequently youths and men in the prime of life, on eis first voyage, are most acted on by the augmentation of heat. If nothing is now done, a febrile diathesis of more or less danger may. be excited ; but if measures of common prudence are resorted to, the symptoms I have mentioned, gradually disappear, the perspira- tive process readily carrying off the surplus of heat. On arriving’ in the West Indies, the danger of the unassimilated is always in proportion to the measure of prudence adopted; and the rest and tranquillity they are permitted to enjoy, in a cool healthy medium. The wise provision of nature often compensates, indeed, for the indiscreet conduct of strangers to the climate, an ample flow of per- spiration rendering ineffectual their own endeavours to give addi- tional] predisposition to disease; but this is still oftener counter- balanced by a variety of causes. If nature is disturbed or counter- acted, by intoxication, by violent exercise, by a lengthened and “especially a stationary exposure to the rays of a fervid sun, by late hours, by night air and dews ;—the heat accumulates, and conjoined with other morbid causes, to whose action it predisposes, produces: the most fatal effects. ‘With this idea of the process which takes place in the human system, on a change from a_ cold or temperate, ‘to a hot climate, we can readily perceive the utility of resorting to. the following preparation. On reaching the northern tropic or N. lat. 23°, every stranger to _ the torrid zone should be bled to an extent proportioned to his age and strength; and a pill of five grains of calomel, given at night, and a saline purgative the following morning. The bleeding should be repeated, if necessarry, once before landing; but the calomel and salts should be frequently resortedto ; and this will be more necessary, should there be a disposition to constipation. I have already ob- served that on approaching the tropics, a considerable tendency to congestion is perceived :—this greatly increases on a further ad~ vance, more especially hepatic congestion, which, in fact, is the most serious consequence to be apprehended on entering the tropics. — Nothing more effectually obviates this than moder ate bleeding, and. mérctrrial and saline purgatives. ‘T’o assist this course, the diet should be made as cooling as possible. Perspiration being the great means employed by nature to carry off the superfluous heat, every thing which tends to restrain it should be avoided ; dilution is, therefore, in every respect, highly necessary; and it is evident, that, with this view, water is the fluid best calculated, for whilst it promotes perspiration, it necessarily prevents determinations and congestions. Should any addition be deemed necessary, it should be such as may render the water more pleasant, and give it a greater tendency to increase alvine evacuation and perspiration. ‘These effects cannot be promoted by the copious commixture of ardent spirits, so freely indulged in by soldiers and sailors;—nor can the intention of dilution be fulfilled by the large quantities of wine and. fermented liquors indulged in to an equally destructive excess, by a great majority of men in the higher walks of life. When the fore-