Medical advice to the inhabitants of warm climates, on the domestic treatment of all the diseases incidental therein : with a few useful hints to new settlers, for the preservation of health, and the prevention of sickness / by Robert Thomas (late of Nevis) surgeon : to the work are prefixed, some observations on the proper management of new Negroes, and the general condition of slaves in the sugar colonies : also are annexed, a list of medicines recommended in the treatment of the diseases, and an explantory table of the weights used by apothecaries.

  • Robert Thomas
Date:
MDCCXCIV [1794]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical advice to the inhabitants of warm climates, on the domestic treatment of all the diseases incidental therein : with a few useful hints to new settlers, for the preservation of health, and the prevention of sickness / by Robert Thomas (late of Nevis) surgeon : to the work are prefixed, some observations on the proper management of new Negroes, and the general condition of slaves in the sugar colonies : also are annexed, a list of medicines recommended in the treatment of the diseases, and an explantory table of the weights used by apothecaries. 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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    Of the Jfapltxy. 14c tage. Flannel mould be worn next to the fidn in all pa* ralytic cafes. Of thb Apoplexy. THIS difrafe is attended with a fudden deprivation of all the fenfes, and a lofs of motion in all parts of the body, except in the heart and lungs. It may be known by the laborious breathing, fulnefs of the pulfe, and the ap- pearance of total infcnfibility which prevail. Causes. It arifes in ftrong plethoric habits from the determination of too great a quantity of blood to the head, which occaflons cither a prefiTure on the brain, or a rupture of fome confiderable veffcl. Thofe who have very fhort necks, and are at the fame time very corpulent, are much predifpofed to attacks of this difeafc. It is fometimes brought on by fudden and violent fits of paffion, or other emotions of the mind ; as alfo by eating immoderately and drinking freely, or by a fudden fuppreffion of fome long accuftomed difchatge, or by an extravafation of watery lymph on the furfacc of the brain. When the difeafe pro- ceeds from the laft of thefe caufes, it is diftinguifhed by the name of Serous Apoplexy; and when from an ex- travafation of blood, it is then called a Sanguineous Apo- plexy. Symptoms. It is fometimes preceded by inaflivityy dulnefs, heavinefs of the eyes, giddtnefs of the head, ftupor, and fudden flattings; but in general the perfon falls down fuddenly, the eyes fwell, the mouth continue* wide open, and discharges a frothy fpittie, the breathing is very difficult, the veffels of the head fetm diftended with blood, and the pulfe is very full and feemingly obftrucled. If thefe fymptoms go off, the fenfes of feeling and motion 5re again reftored; but if they continue long, or a frefli ttack enfues, the perfon will foon be deprived of life. Prognostic. If the refpiration is very much opprefTed, the fit of long duration, the perfon advanced in years, and the pulfe irregular, death will certainly be the confe« quence. Treatment. Due care ought to be taken during the continuance of the lit, to remove all compreflion from about the patient's neck, and to fupport his head of a confiderable height, by applying pillows underneath it. This being done, the chamber fhoutd be thrown open, fo as to admit of a perfcel and free admifflon of air, and] twelve or fourteen ounces of blood fhould be drawn from the temporal artery, or jugular vein, in preference to taking it from the arm. Blifters and ftimulatin» cataplafms may next be applied, putting the former to the back and O anaics,