A new medical dictionary; or, general repository of physic. Containing an explanation of the terms, and a description of the various particulars relating to anatomy, physiology, physic, surgery, materia medica, chemistry, &c. &c. &c. ... / by G. Motherby.
- Motherby, G. (George), 1732-1793.
- Date:
- 1791
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A new medical dictionary; or, general repository of physic. Containing an explanation of the terms, and a description of the various particulars relating to anatomy, physiology, physic, surgery, materia medica, chemistry, &c. &c. &c. ... / by G. Motherby. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![A B S [ for the cure. When abfcejjes are feated on the futures, they may be troublefonie by inflaming the dura mater • which pafl'es through them, and is continued to the pericranium. Every where on the fcalp, a caultic is the belt for opening abfcejjes with, efpecially if the long confinement of tire matter hath rendered the fkull carious, for it makes fome way for the rafpatory, which is always ufed, except where the futures are : ex¬ foliation here is very flow, therefore rafping is ufed, and then incarnation can immediately proceed. Abjcefes over the forehead are belt opened by incifion, but care ihould be obferved, that the direction of the fi¬ bres may be followed, for a tranverfe wound may caufe the eyelids to fall over the eyes.-Cerebri. An abjcefs in the Brain. Inltances of this kind have occurred, and if the trepan is ufed early enough, the cafe ends well.- Colli. An abfcefs of the Neck. This part is affected with tumors of every kind, but generally the fcrophulous and encyfted occupy it. Abfcejjes here are apt to become fiftu- lous, but by proper comprefs and bandage this effedt is often prevented. An opening in this part is belt made with a lancet; but if the jugular vein is near, fome care is required not to wound it. --Diaphragmatis. An abjcefs of the Diaphragm. See Inflammatio Diaphr ag- matis.-Digitorum Manuum & Pedum. Abjcefes of the Fingers and 'Toes. Thefe are called paronychias, whit¬ lows, felons, &c. and are at- the ends of the fingers and toes. Abfcejjes in the fingers are generally ftrumous. See Paronychia.-Dorsi & Lumeorum. An abfcefs in the Back and Loins. Thefe are generally of the flrurnous kind; but, when not, they are often fatal. The matter is ufually deep feated, and the bones are injured by it before a fluctuation can be difcovered; for want of aid the difcharge is made internally, and then the patient dies. As foon as it can be difcovered that the contents are digefted, however deep, apply a cauftic, and continue it till the remiflion of the pain certifies the effedf thereof being at an end, cut out the efchar, which in this cafe is an inch or more in thicknefs, and then force out the mat¬ ter by proper means. If a fetid ichor is dilcharged, or the bone affedled, wait with patience for its exfoliation, for here but little can be done to haften it. An abjcefs fometimes forms itfelf under the quadratus lumborum, difl'edts the cellular membrane between the quadratus, iliacus interims, and the pfoas, the matter running down into the thigh, pafl'es as far as the inner condyle of the os femoris, pointing there as well as in the loins ; but, before this, the mifchief it hath done is not to be repaired; and, if an opening is_ made, the patient is likely tobedeltroyed by the excefs of the difcharge, whence it is doubtful whether to open it or no ; but yet when the patient is young, and his conflitution ftrong, nature fhould not be defpaired of. One fymptom of this complaint is as follows: if the leg is flretched out, the patient com¬ plains of pain ; if the toes are turned out, this pain is in- creafed, but a relaxed pofture inftantly procures relief. See Psoas. Kirkland’s Med. Surgery, ii. 199. London Med. Journal, vii. 14.-GinXiivarum. An abfcejs of the Gums, alfo called Paru/is, a Gum Boil. Thefe tu¬ mors are very painful, the inflammation is often more diffufed than inflammation in other parts, and more or lefs attended with a fwelling in the cheek, or perhaps the whole face. The tooth-ach, the general caufes of inflammation, a carious tooth, &c. are the caufes of this complaint. Mr. John Hunter obferves, that gum boils feldom arife from any other caufe than inflammation in the cavity of a tooth, the effedt of which extends all over the face, but more particularly in the gums ; that fometimes this difeafe originates from a difeafe in the focket of the tooth, or in the jaw without any connedtion with the tooth. Through bad management, or negledt, they are apt to degenerate into fiftulous ulcers. During the inflam¬ mation, to afluage the pain, let the patient hold a decodtion of barley, or of camomile or elder flowers, or other anodyne ingredients, conftantly in his mouth, fpitting it out, and taking frefh quantities, as may be needful to keep up an equal degree of heat, or, per¬ haps, the fuppuration cannot be avoided; in which cafe let figs be fplit and held in the mouth upon the boil, and white bread poultices, wrapped in thin linen cloths, ap¬ plied hot externally upon the cheek of the affedted fide ; ? ] A B S and as fpeedily asfis convenient, let the abfcefs be opened* for the contained matter foon corrodes the adjacent parts, and affects the bone. The difcharge being made, the poultice may be continued a little longer, and the mouth walhed three or four times a day with warm wine and honey of rofes. If a bad tooth is the caufe, it mull be ex- tradted before any attempts are made by medicines, or at leaft, as foon as the difcharge of the abjcefs will permit. If the ulcer degenerates into a fiilula, inject warm wine and honey of rofes into it; and if it is fufpedted that the bone is carious, add to this injedtion a little of the tindt. myrrh, or of the vin. aloes. If thefe methods fail, proceed as for the exfoliation of a carious bone. See Epulis and Parulis. On this fubjedt, fee Mr. John Hunter’s Natural Hiftory of the Human Teeth, part ii. Bell’s Surgery, iv. 203.-Glandule lachrymalis. Abfcejjes in the lachrymal Glands. Whatever may be the caufe of thefe abfcejjes, thofe to which they ufually are attributed feem not to have any fuch effect ; they ufually end in a fiftula lachrymalis, to prevent which, an open¬ ing mult be made into them : for the performance of which Mr. Sharpe hath given very ample inftrudtions in his Treatife of the Operations of Surgery, and as this is fo generally pofiefled, the reader is defired to have re- courfe thereto for the needful inftrudtions, and alfo to Wallis’s Nofologia Methodica Oculorum.-Hepa- tis. An abfcefs of the Liver. A fuppuration is pro- gnofticated if an inflammation continues in the liver more than three days; if the pain remits, and is followed by a pulfafion in the fame place, and if fhiverings come on, with a continuance of an idterical colour ; foon after which a tumor is perceived in the region of the liver, and a fenfe of weight alfo; a hedtic fever follows with thirft, and an extreme feebienefs. Aretseus obferves, that a pain generally extends to the throat, and to the extre¬ mity of the fhoulder, and a dry, but not very frequent cough, afflidts the patient. He farther remarks, that this diforder is fometimes miftaken for a tumor of the peri¬ tonaeum, which latter is more irregular, and is not cir- cumfcribed by the limits of the hypochondrium. The confequences of an abjcefs in this vifcus are : 1 ft. It is corroded and confumed. In this cafe, after a tedious idterical wafting, a flow fever, great anxiety, a famous and foetid diarrhoea, &c. the patient dies. 2dly, The abfcefs breaks inwardly, and difcharges a fanious pus into the belly: thus the reft of the vifcera be¬ come putrefcent, a confumption of the whole body haftily advances, and an afcites, &c. ufher in death to clofe the wretched fcene. 3dly, The fame fort of pus pafl'es by the biliary dudts into the inteftines, and regurgitating into the ftomach, caufes various coloured and offenlive vomitings ; or pair¬ ing downwards, produces a violent diarrhoea. Acid and acefcent fubftances may palliate for a time, but the end is always fatal. 4thly, The ichorous matter palling through the ramifi¬ cations of the vena cava into the blood, procures fymp- toms the molt formidable, the fundtions foon are difturb- ea, and the diforder only ends with life. 5 tlily, The tumor may adhere to the peritonaeum, and form an external abfcejs, evident both to the light and touch. Here alone is any hope to perfedt a cure; a cau¬ ftic may be applied, and left to feparate: for, as is obferved by Aretaeus, an incifion is not fafe, becaufe it endangers a fudden death by haemorrhage, which in the liver can¬ not be reftrained. He farther fays, “ If it is neceflary to make a perforation, introduce a red-hot iron as far as the pus, which will cut and cauterize together.” The fame author farther remarks, that “ If the pus is well condi¬ tioned, and the fymptoms foon fubfide, the patient will recover; but otherwife this cafe is alfo fatal in its end.” 6thly, and laftly, Aretaeus again informs us, that if the tumor does not fuppurate, the excrements have an of- fenfive and putrid kind of odour; the food pafl'es crude and undigefted, becaufe of the weaknefs of the ftomach and of the inteftines, for the liver, fo difordered, fends forth a too defective bile to aflift the digeftion ; whence fome are afflicted with a fharp corroding heat, and are worfe and worfe every day, and death is foon their delivery. Some recover from both the dyfentery and the abfcefs, but a dropfv cuts them off. But if thefe fymptoms remit, C and](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30451772_0023.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
