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]
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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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    indications of cure * will in general supersede the necessity of having recourse to a remedy (the cold affusion) which must often prove re- pugnant to the feelings of the hydrophobic patient, (and in what disease is it not so at the commencement ?) and sometimes perhaps equal- ly so to the prejudices of the friends, f * [ One advantage attending the above theory, and which is an argument in favour of its simplicity, is, that whatever tends to fulfil any one of the indications, will have a manifest tendency to fulfil all the rest.] f [ Partly from the fears of the patient, and partly from the well meant, though mistaken, tenderness of the triends, some time may probably elapse before the effects ot the cold affusion in hydrophobia, shall have been fully ascertained. In tetanus traumaticus this has been already done, in such a manner and in so many instances, as to leave no doubt what* ever of its utility and efficacy. See No. XVI, &c. It will also be proper to observe, that about two years ago (viz. three years after fhe publication of the above re- marks,*) the death of aliydrophobic patient was mentioned in a Scotch newspaper, and among other remedies which were tried it was stated, that many buckets full of cold sea water had been poured upon the patient: which is the only instance I have heard of in which this part of the above plan has been put to the test.f It is evident however that a single case, (or even two cases,) will admit of no positive conclusion either way ; especially when the result is stated in such general terms, and while there continues to be so many different methods of applying * See page 119. t [Since writing the above, the cold affusion has been tried in a second case of hydrophobia which was lately admitted at the Manchester Infirmary under the care of my friend Dr. Bardsley, who was kind enough to show me the case, (which makes the fourth 1 have seen,) and intends shortly to publish it.) N 3