Facts establishing the efficacy of the opiate friction in spasmodic and febrile diseases. Also, outlines of an attempt to investigate the nature, causes, and method of cure, of hydrophobia and tetanus ... To which are added, cases and remarks / [Michael Ward].

  • Ward, Michael, active 1809.
Date:
[1809]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Facts establishing the efficacy of the opiate friction in spasmodic and febrile diseases. Also, outlines of an attempt to investigate the nature, causes, and method of cure, of hydrophobia and tetanus ... To which are added, cases and remarks / [Michael Ward]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    % I have heard of, * in some of which it was evidently useful, though its effects were not so bition in a very early state of the disorder ? The adminis- tration of two such powerful medicines, as the pure caustic alkali and cantharides in substance, seems at least to be safe, if not useful, from what has been already stated. Most unquestionably, if it should ever fall to my lot to treat a third case of so distressing and fatal a malady, I shall be tempted to try safe, yet active doses of the arsenical solution* (as the most powerful tonic in the whole range of the materia me- dics) along with wine, opiate frictions, and electricity. I am the more confirmed in the hope of utility from this prac- tice, as it met with the approbation and recommendation of my highly respected and much lamented friend, the late Dr. Percival. Sanctioned by his authority, medical practitioners may probably be induced to make trial of this method of cure : — a method that, in part, has certainly succeeded in alleviating some of the symptoms of hydrophobia ; but which, indeed, is chiefly recommended by its supposed agreement with the rational principles of analogical induction.” This report of the opiate friction under all the circum- stances, and considering this is the only case of hydrophobia in which it has been tried, is as favourable as could well be expected.] * Of five cases of tetanus in which the opiate friction was used, four were cured, but in all of them other means were employed at the same time, which renders it difficult to say precisely, what share of the merit was due to the for- mer. Can it be shewn however, that an equal degree of success has attended the treatment of the same, or any given number of cases taken in succession, where internal remedies [* The arsenical solution has been tried in hydrophobia by Mr. Dunlop of Rochdale, and also by Dr. Marcet, but without efFcft. Dr. M’s. case is related in the 1st. volume of the .Medico-Chirurgical Transactions, just published.]