The family physician, or, Every man his own doctor : in three parts : together with the history, causes, symptoms and treatment of Asiatic cholera, a glossary, explaining the most difficult words that occur in medical science, and a copious index and appendix / by Daniel H. Whitney.

  • Whitney, Daniel H.
Date:
1834
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The family physician, or, Every man his own doctor : in three parts : together with the history, causes, symptoms and treatment of Asiatic cholera, a glossary, explaining the most difficult words that occur in medical science, and a copious index and appendix / by Daniel H. Whitney. 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.)

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    Hydropericardium ; water in (he purse, or membrane, which encloses the heart, it is generally coimecied with hy- drothorax. In this and hyd'rothorax, the means on which we are to place any reliance at all are diuretics ; begin with digi- talis, three drachms of the inf.ision three times a day, and increasing it to six drachms, and it may be united with infu- sion of pepper, or acetate of potash, nitre, cinnamon water, &c. Tapping the chest [paracentesis thoracis] is recom- mended as a last resort. Anasarca, general dropsy, or dropsy of the cellular membrane. The most prominent symptom is, cedematus swelling and pitting of the skin upon pressure ; it usually commences in the feet and legs, which gradually extends over the whole body, the skin is parched and dry ; in severe cases Ihe skin gives way and serum oozes through the pores of the skin. Erysipelas and gangrene are apt to follow in bad hab- its of body. TREATMENT. Where it occurs suddenly from cold, or the use of spirits, bleeding will be proper, and this must be followed by purga- tives, as recommended in the other forms of dropsy, with saline and antimonial medicines, nitre, acetate of potash, solution of antimony and diuretics, and relaxants, squills and digitalis. These will not be of much service unless aided by copious dilutions. Therefore liquids must be allowed, and such as promote a discharge by urine must be enjoined. But if the system is weak, and the dropsy appears to have risen from debility, the system must be supported, in which case recourse must be had to the use of tonics, camphor, bit- ters, peruvian bark, quinine, &c. Scarifications with a lancet let out the water and afford relief, the only danger is from the scarification producing inflammation and mortifica- tion. Blisters and issues are recommended, but they are not advisable, for the same reasons. Laced stockings or bandages, may be of some service.