Principles and practice of surgery / by James Syme ; edited with notes and illustrations by Robert S. Newton.

  • James Syme
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Principles and practice of surgery / by James Syme ; edited with notes and illustrations by Robert S. Newton. 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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    discarded from my practice; the actual Cautery and Moxa must indeed be seldom used.—r. s. n.] Acupuncturation.—This remedy for inflammation must stand by itself. It consists in the introduction of slender needles, from one to three inches in length, into the inflamed part, by a gentle rotatory motion. No respect is paid in doing this to the importance of the organs, and the heart, stomach, arteries and nerves have all, it is said, been trans- fixed without any ceremony, though fatal consequences are reported to have sometimes resulted from this rash practice. No pain or other symptoms of irritation are in general produced, and, on the contrary, a diminution of the inflammatory indications is alleged to be frequently observed. This practice is of ancient origin, and held in much esteem in eastern countries, where, as in China and Japan, its employment is said to constitute a distinct department of the surgical profession. Some years ago it was tried pretty extensively in France, and also in this country, but it now seems to be going, or rather to have already gone, into disrepute, except in the treatment of Sciatica, where it is of the greatest service. It would seem that the effect of acupunctura- tion is proportioned not to the number of the needles, but to the depth they are introduced, and the time they are allowed to remain. I generally use only one, and leave it for two hours. [ Acupuncture is indeed a barbarous mode of practice, and it is to be hoped that it will continue to be confined to the East Indies, where it originated. In America, a bare trial or two only have been given it, our surgeons not seeing the necessity for such a rash practice. I trust that even Mr. Syme does not often resort to it.—r. s. n.] CHOICE AND COMBINATION OF THE MEANS WHICH HAVE BEEN MENTIONED IN TREATING INFLAMMATION. [ Narcotics, sedatives and astringents are of the greatest service in treating inflammation. Emollients, and such other agents as these, to produce an equalization of the circulating forces, are to be preferred to direct venesection. As I shall introduce many cases, together with their treatment, from my own practice, I pass on to the consideration of another form of inflammation.—r. s. n.] Resolution.—When the symptoms of inflammation subside, they do not leave the part affected altogether in its natural state. It generally remains for a time somewhat swelled, tender, and unfit for the per- formance of its duty, whence it requires rest, mechanical support, and gentle stimulation. »
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