Elements of the theory and practice of medicine ; designed for the use of students and junior practitioners / by George Gregory ... [etc.].

  • George Gregory
Date:
1835
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Elements of the theory and practice of medicine ; designed for the use of students and junior practitioners / by George Gregory ... [etc.]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

    659/700 (page 639)
    Chap ().] TREATMENT OP DROPSY. object may equally be gained by brisk purgatives, especially jalap and cream of tartar; by relaxing diaphoretics, such as nitre and antimony; by the more powerful diuretics, especially col- chicum and digitalis. The utility of blood-letting in certain forms of dropsy has been established on the clearest evidence ; but it is right to add, that so powerful a remedy is not lightly to be resorted to. In all cases of disease not accompanied by fever or inflammation, great caution is required in the management of the lancet. In the case of dropsy this is pecu- liarly necessary; first, on account of the debility, which, if carried too far, blood-letting produces; and secondly, from its being so often associated with that passive enlargement of the heart, which does 7iot admit of the detraction of blood. Bleed- ing in dropsy should never be pushed therefore to such an extent as to endanger the occurrence of syncope. In dropsy from glandular or other visceral obstruction, the indication of cure is to rouse the action of the absorbents, so as, if possible, to remove not only the effused fluid, but the solid morbid deposits which obstruct the course of the circulation. Of deohstment medicines, the most powerful are mercury and iodine. Those possessed of a more doubtful property are squill and aramoniacum. When dropsy appears associated with a feeble pulse, and other incontestable evidences of languid circulation, the tone of the system is to be supported by wine and brandy, the infusions of certain acrid herbs, such as the horseradish, by the various bitters and aromatics, and lastly, by bark, steel, and camphor. 2. With the second intention (that of promoting the tem- porary absorption of effused fluid) recourse is had to medi- cines which determine to the bowels and kidneys. The cathar- tics most useful in this view are those called hydragogue, in which class are ranked jalap, cream of tartar, elaterium, scam- mony, and gamboge. It is a remarkable fact, that in almost every case of general dropsy, active purging will do something towards the reUef of the patient. It appears in a peculiar manner to excite the absorbent system to action. Of the diuretic medicines employed in dropsy, some are weakening, as digitaUs, the acetate of potash, nitre, and colchicum. Others are stimulating, such as the spiritus aetheris nitrosi, the oil of turpentine, squill, and juniper berries. The former are chiefly serviceable in thoracic, the latter in abdominal dropsy.