A dictionary of practical medicine : comprising general pathology, the nature and treatment of diseases ... with numerous prescriptions ... a classification of diseases ... a copious bibliography, with references; and an appendix of approved formulae / ... By James Copland.

James Copland

Date:: 1844-58

Credit: A dictionary of practical medicine : comprising general pathology, the nature and treatment of diseases ... with numerous prescriptions ... a classification of diseases ... a copious bibliography, with references; and an appendix of approved formulae / ... By James Copland. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Lamar Soutter Library, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Lamar Soutter Library at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

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$followed. This necessarily differs in every case; but that part of it which belongs to my province is stated at the place wliere abscesses in the dif- ferent viscera are discussed, and the means which may be employed to procure the obliteration of their cavities, the second intention of cure, are noticed, with reference to abscess of each of the important viscera and structures in which it is liable to form. BiBLiOGRAFiiY. — Stahl, De Abscessu et Furunculo, IlalK, 1714 I.udtiig, De Aliscessu Latente, Lips. 17i8, 4to.—Meyer, De Absccs-u in Febribus, &c., Got. 17W. — Schroeder,T)v Puris absque pra?gressa Inflammatione Origine, Got. \7(j6.—Biii(fenave, t)e Abscessu Abdominis. &c., Palis, 1774.— /•Viy, Ue Aposteinatihus, Lips. 1775. —Daruin, Experiments on MuciUginous and Purnlent Matter, Litchf. 1780 Salimith, De Diagnosi Puris, Got. 1783 J. Hunter, On the Blood and Inflammation, Lonrt. —Hume, Dissert, on the Properties of Pus, Lond. 1788. —Juslnmond, Versurh. lib. d. Entzundnng. &c., Leip. 1790.— Widekirid, AWgetn. Theorie d. Entiundungen. Leip. ]TJ\. ~ Dupuy. Sui les Abces, on Tumeurs pu- rulentes, Paris, 1804. — Lassus, Pathologie Chirnrgi- c de, t. i., Piiris, 1809, Svo. —Pearson, Observat. on Pus, Prilosoph. Trans. Lond. \S\\.—Jitisl. Uber Abscesse, in dessen Magazin, b. i., Bt-rl. I81fi—Thumson, On Inflim- mation, Eilin. 1823. ch. 9 Heurteloup, In Dictionnaire des Sciences Medicales, t. i. et t. viii. p. 431 Richier, ■Art. Abscess, Encyclopad. Worterbuch der Medicinischen Wisseiischafien, b. i., Berl. 1828 Roux, art. Abcis, in Dictionnaire de Medeciiie, t. i. p. 4.— Tiupuytren, art. Abces, in Dictionnaire de Medicine et de Chirurg. Pra- tiques, t. i., Paris, 1829. (See also Bibliug. and Refer. to the art. Inflammation.) ABSORPTION. SvN. Absorptio, Lat. Absurp- tinn, Fr. Die Einsaugung, Ger. Assorbimento, Ital. Classif. General Pathology and Thera- peutics. This is one of the niost important functions in the system, and one of the mo^t frequent channels through whieli disea-e is caused, perpetuated, or removed. As to each of these relations it requires a brief notice. 1. Of Absorption in relation to the Caus- ation, Perpetuation, and the Removal of Disease.—The importance of entertaining accu« rate ideas as to the channels through which noxious agents affect the system, must be mani- fest. Without them, many of our pathological doctrines must be erroneous, and the therapeu- tical indications founded on them wor-~e than useless: on the other hand, just views as to the nature and extent of the causes which operate through this medium, give rise to tiie most im- portant inductions, — the chain of morbid causa- tion is traced without interruption, the nature of pathological conditions is moie accurately ob- served, and ultimate effects are recognised in due connection with remote causes. The prac- tical advantages which accrue are great: pro phylactic measures are based on sound princi- ples ; remedial agents are directed with precision : and the physician prescribes in a spirit of rational induction, instead of blind empiricism. 2. The agents which afiect the system inju- riously through the medium of absorption consist, Jirst, of those which are external and foreign to the body, and act upon it only occasionally, or under certain circumstances ; and, secondly, of those which are generated in the body itself, and, when cariied by means of absorption into the current of circulation, produce very important effects. The former rank among the primary causes of disease ; the latter are themselves the result of disease, but become important secondary causes, perpetuating and generally increasing its severity. The first class invade the system on the mucous and cutaneous surfaces, — the skin, the lungs, the alimentary canal, &c. : the secoxrfclass form in the parenchyma or texture of organs and parts, or are generated on secieting surfaces, whence they are absorbed into the circulation. On each of these I shall offer a few remaiks. 3. 1st, Of absorption on the skin in relution to the production and removal of disease. — a. That disease frequently proceeds in this way is evinced by certain contagious and chronic affections of the skin itself: that it is possible to produce various derangements, by applying to it several active agents, which affect this surface no further than in being absorbed from it, may be proved by direct experiment. But it is chiefly when the skin is deprived of a portion of its cuticle, how- ever minute, that we perceive affections produced through the medium of cutaneous absorption. Several eruptive and contagious diseases are familiar examples of this; and the majority of deleterious agents produce a most decided effect when applied to the skin thus exposed. 4. b. The same channels through which disease invades the system, are often the most suitable through which to counteract or remove it. This is shown by the treatment of sypliilis; by the use of baths, lotions, fun.igations, and inunctions in cutaneous and visceral affections: and by the employ Jieiit of various remedies to the skin, which are partially absorbed from it into the system. When the skin is deprived of a portion of its cuticle, it absorbs rapidly many of the most active agents employed in medicine; and it is thus ren- dered one of the most eligible situations to which we can direct our plan of cure. Thus, when the stomach will not retain the sulphate of quinine, it may be efficaciously administered to the de- nuded cuticle; or when we wish to produce an anodyne effect upon the system, or to assuage violent pain, the preparation? of morphia, as the acetate, may be applied in this way. And in various diseases, when the function of deglutition is lost, or the mouth cannot be opened, certain active remedies may be thus administered ; more especially those which produce their effects after having been absorbed into the circulation. Even purgatives, as the croton oil, and elaierium, some preparations of iodine, strychnia, prussic acid, tartar emetic, &c., if judiciously employed in this way, will be often productive of advantage, and are not infrequently required to be thus pre- scribed. 5. 2d, Of absorption from the litngs in relation to the causation and removal of disease. — a. There are very few, if indeed any, of the numerous maladies which are usually denominated infec- tious, that are not caused through the medium of the lungs. And, though the greater proportion of them are most pro bably induced from the morbid impression which their exciting causes make upon the nerves supplying this organ, yet several of them are also, more or less, occasioned by the absorption of the cause itself into the cir- culation, and by its influence upon the blood, and the nervous and vascular systems. Probably, also, certain other causes of disease, of no mean importance, particularly marsh miasmata, and noxious animal exhalations, act directly upon the organic nerves of the lungs, and on the blood itself, through the medium of absorption. We c4$