On the remedial agency of a local anaesthetic or benumbing temperature, in various painful and imflammatory [i.e. inflammatory] diseases / by James Arnott.

  • Arnott, James Moncrieff, 1794-1885.
Date:
1851
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the remedial agency of a local anaesthetic or benumbing temperature, in various painful and imflammatory [i.e. inflammatory] diseases / by James Arnott. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    and hard, or, in other words, frozen. She did not complain of the application, but on the contrary appeared to obtain immediate relief. The salt was washed off the face, and the saline mixture ordered to be continued. 17. The erysipelas has extended to the neck, and has returned to one side of the face and the ear. Increase of delirium and of the general febrile symptoms. The frigorific was again applied as before to the inflamed surface, and with the same immediate beneficial result. To take a laxative, and to continue the mixture. 18. The fever and delirium subsided towards the evening of yester- day. The swelling has now quite left the face, and nearly the neck. From this period the convalescence was rapid. Little medical treatment, besides attention to diet, was deemed necessary during the remaining period of attendance. A younger sister of this girl was attacked with erysipelas about a month afterwards, and died after a fortnight’s illness. The fever was typhoid, and she gradually sunk from exhaustion. She was judici- ously treated by moderate antiphlogistic remedies in the first, and by tonics and stimulants in the latter stage. My opinion was requested towards the end; but I did not think that congelation could then be of service. I now regret that it was not employed, as, without put- ting the patient to the least hazard, it would have removed or lessened one cause of asthenia, and diminished one source of suffering. Case II.—W. Mansfield, aged 47, residing at No. 1, Leicester Street, admitted a patient of the Dispensary, with erysipelas, on the 12th January, 1849. Was seen at first by the house-surgeon, who prescribed a laxative, and a saline mixture containing antimony. When I took charge of the case on the 14th, I found him labouring under the disease in its severest form. He had been very delirious during the night, and continued to be excited, and at times incoherent. The face was much swelled and distorted, and the eyes closed. He com- plained of a very painful sense of burning in the inflamed parts. There was much fever. I applied pounded ice and salt in a piece of thin silk gauze, to the whole of the inflamed surface, by shifting the bag from place to place, and with the effect of freezing large patches of the skin. Each application may have lasted nearly two minutes. There was a little smarting during and immediately after the congelation, but this was succeeded by complete relief. To continue the medicine already prescribed. c
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