An essay on the use of narcotics and other remedial agents calculated to produce sleep in the treatment of insanity / Joseph Williams.

  • Williams, Joseph, 1814-1882
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay on the use of narcotics and other remedial agents calculated to produce sleep in the treatment of insanity / Joseph Williams. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    Purgatives.—When hesitating as to the neces- sity of bleeding, and yet being anxious to diminish vascular action, purging will often be advisable. This practice was strongly recommended by the late Dr. Abercrombie. Repeated purging will often do more good than any other treatment, as must be familiar to those who have had much experience in these cases. Croton oil is very certain in its effect and acts rapidly, and is very generally strongly re- commended. Antispasmodic and stimulant purga- tives, with the foetid gums or turpentine, are often usefa] where there is congestion of the brain with- out much action, with a cold skin. Where there is a latent tendency, insanity may be induced by irregularity of the bowels, cerebral congestion being so commonly caused by consti- pation. Paying great attention to the bowels in all cases of disease of the brain, is most important; and purgatives are useful in both the acute and chronic diseases. In hypochondriasis or melancholia, continued purging is often most useful, as the symptoms are
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