First lines of the practice of physic (Volume 1-2).

  • Cullen, William, 1710-1790.
Date:
1801
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: First lines of the practice of physic (Volume 1-2). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

    63/636
    In the Natural Functions: I. The weaknefs of the llomach, as appearing in anorexia, naufea, and vomit- ing ; II. Involuntary excretions, depending upon a paliy of the fphinBers ; III. Difficult deglutition, depending up- on a pally of the mufcles of the fauces. 105.] Lastly^ The fymptoins denoting the putrescent state oj the Jluids, are, I. With refpeO: to the fiomach; the loathing of animal food, naufea and vomiting, great thirft, and a delireof acids. II. With refpe6lto the lluids; 1. The blood drawn out of the veins not coagulating as ufual j 2. Hemorrhagy from different parts, without marks of increafed impetus; 3. Ef. fufions under the (kin or cuticle, forming patechiae, ma- culic, and vibices; 4. Effufions of a yellow feruni under the cuticle. III. With rcfpeft to the ftate of the excretions; fetid breath, frequent loofe and fetid ftools, high coloured tur- bid urine, fetid fweats, and the fetor and lived colour of blillered places. IV. The cadaverous fmell of the whole body. 106.] Thefe feveral fymptoms have very often, each of them fingly, a fhare in determining the prognoftic; but more efpecially by their concurrence arid combination with one another; particularly thole of debility with thofe of putrefcency.* 107.] On the fubjetl of the prognoftic, -it is proper to obferve, .that many phyficians have been of opinion there is fomething in the nature of fevers which generally deter- mine them to be of a certain duration; and therefore that their terminations, whether falutary or fatal, happen at cer- tain periods of the difcafe, rather than at others. Thefe periods are called the Chitical Days; carefully mark- ed by Hippocrates and other ancient phyficians, as well as by moderns of the greateft eminence in praciice; whilft at the fame time many other moderns, of no inconfideiable authority, deny their taking place in the fevers of thefe northern regions which we inhabit. • It may not be amiss to explain this circumstance a little more fully. Cold- ness of the extremities may alone besufSeienr to induce practitioners to think; the issue of the disease fatal ; yet if this symptom be combined with a weak- ness and irregularity of the intellectual operations, and these two accompani- i-d with involuntary, loose, and foetid evacuations ox slocl^ aiid-.trine, eeaxii miy be prcncunccd to be at no great distance.