Volume 2

The London medical dictionary; including under distinct heads every branch of medicine ... with whatever relates to medicine in natural philosophy, chemistry, and natural history / By Bartholomew Parr.

  • Bartholomew Parr
Date:
1809
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The London medical dictionary; including under distinct heads every branch of medicine ... with whatever relates to medicine in natural philosophy, chemistry, and natural history / By Bartholomew Parr. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    juslly apply to them what an eminent author said of the rernvian bark, that he found it most serviceable where it was most wantedj for in cases purely iuHammatory, where bleeding of itself will commonly do every thing, blisters are less necessary; but in those of a mixed na- ture, where the assistance of blisters is more immedi- ately required, the relief afforded by them is in general more certain. “ Some may think it strange, that amongst the reme- dies employed in the treatment of this disease 1 have made no mention of oily medicines, such as emulsions, Jiivnuses, &c. nor of the Peruvian bark. In regard to oily medicines, I have often observed that the advantage derived from thena in cases of catarrh, attended with heat and fever, was extremely equivocal; and that wherever there were itausea, oppression, and uneasiness at the stomach, with a bitter taste in the raoutli, and ni- dorous eructations, they did more harm than good : as these symptoms so frequently occurred in the influenza, I thought it safest to omit their use entirely. “ As to the bark, I shall only remark, that in the in- fluenza, the cough, affection ot the breathing, and op- pression at the praecordia, where they occurred, w’ere to me sufficient reasons for not employing it; and that even where these symptoms were not present, and in cases where the great lowness, and apparent putrid ten- dency, seemed not only to justify but even to demand the use of the bark, I never was so fortunate as to see one single instance where it produced any sensible good effect, either in moderating ffie fever, supporting the strength, checking the disposition to gangrene, or in preventing the fatal catastrophe that ensued. “ When the fever, and other immediately alarming symptoms of the influenza had ceased, there frequently remained a teasing cough;. and convalescents in general complained of languor, want of appetite, and that their sleep was interrupted and unrefreshing. For removing the.se complaints, and completing the recovery of the patients, change of air, and riding on horseback, were the most effectual remedies; and to some they w'ere absolutely necessary. A milk diet was recommended where the cough w'as obstinate ; but I did not find it either necessary or of advantage to enjoin so strict an antiphlogistic regimen as is usually done in similar com- plaints. Neither do I know of any instance where the cough terminated in a phthisis pulmonalis, and I am much inclined to believe that this fatal termination was much less frequent after tlie influenza than after a com- mon cold. For tlie lowness and w^ant of appetite, cha- lybeate waters, especially when drunk at the spring, were of singular service. I also frequently prescribed, and I think with advantage, the elix. vitr. cum liquor, anod. Hoflmanni, taken to the quantity of thirty or forty drops in a bitter infusion, or in a decoction of the bark. “ In this short account of the late influenza, I have ofi'eved no conjecture with regard to the original cause of the distemper, or tlic manner in which it was propa- gated. I apprehend, from tlie present slate of our knowledge, that we can hardly venture to say even what it is not; still less to affirm, with any probability, what it is.” Having thus inserted the best accounts, both ancient and modern, we shall refer to our own opinions and ex- perience to the article Cataiirui’s kvidkmict.'s, , JSep also Observations on the Influenza by A. ffrough- ton, M. D.; a Description of the Influenza, by R. Hamilton, M.D.; Fothergill’s Works, by i ettsom, 4to. p. 615 ; Medical Observations and inquiries, vol. vi. p. 340, &c.; Medical Transactions, vol. iii. p. 54, &c.; Medical Communications, vol. i. p. 1, See ; Edin- burgh Medical Commentaries, vol. ix. p. 393 ; Me- moirs of the Medical Society, vol. i. to vi. INFRASCAPULA'RIS, MUSCULUS, (from nifra, below, and scapula, the shoulder-blade) ; iujraspinatvs, supcrscapularis inferior, subscapularis, or innnersus, rises from the whole inner surface of the scapula, pa.sses un- der the coracoid process, rups over the capsular liga- ment, and is inserted into the outer tuberosity of the os humeri, carrying the arm round, and partly raising it, being the reverse of the supraspinatus. INFRASPINATUS, (from infra, and spina). See In'FRASCAPULARIS. INFUNDTBULUM, (from its shape) ; rhoana, pel.- ris, chone. Between the basis of the anterior pillars off the fornix, and the anterior part of the union of the optic thalami, lies this funnel-like cavity. It run.s down towards the basis of the cerebrum, contracting gradually, terminating in the glandula pituitaria, and communicating with the lateral ventricles. (See Ce- rebrum.) The name also of the pelvis of the kid- neys (see Renes) ; and of the pharynx. INFU'SIO, (from infundo, to pour in). Infusion. It signifies either the action of the fluid, or the medi- cine prepared by it. By infusion in water, the gummy, tlie extractive, and the saline parts of vegetables, are separated : and by the intervention of the gum, the resin and oil are in part taken up by the same menstruum, so that in many instances the whole virtue ot a plant is obtained. In general, water takes up more by infusion from dry herbs than from fresh ones, ])articularly the newly dried ones. From animal substances, water extracts tlie ge- latinous and nutritious parts ; and by this means glues, jellies, and broths, are prepared; and along with these it sometimes takes up principles of more activity. W a- ter also generally suspends some portion of calcareous and aluminous earth ; the quantity it dissolves of eitiier is truly inconsiderable. ■ In making infusions, whether in cold or liot watei, tlie ingredients are only steeped in it, without boihrg. It is the same, whether proof spirit, rectified spirit, or any other menstruum, is employed, tliough tliese prepa- rations have a different title, ibis form is pieferied where tlie medicinal portion is soluble and easily sepa- rated; when it is volatile, and would fly off by boiling; or W'liere it would be lost or destroyed by long maceration. In nervous disorder.s, infusions are best made in a vinous, a spirituous, or an alkaline ni';jistruum. Sto- machic infusions slumld be moderately s_ irituous. Ca- thartic ones, wlietlier saline or resinoti.s, it tor extem- poraneous use, arc best made witli hot water. Infusions shoulti not, it possible, be so iully impreg- nated with the ingredients as to make the medicine un- palatable : though the infusions ot many ot ilic leiid plants must be necessarily unpleasing. Many infusions are most agreeable wiieii made witn cold water, tliougli probalily weaker than when heat i.s employed, l lio cold infusion of camonule flowers ana the carduu.s bcucdicius are pleasant, and will notvxu > vomiting.
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