Volume 1

Von Ziemssen's Handbook of general therapeutics.

Date:
1885-1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Von Ziemssen's Handbook of general therapeutics. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

    405/442 (page 379)
    aU diseases of this group there is only one in wliich its aciclity contra- incHcates it, viz. civcular ulcer of the stomach. In the class of re- spiratoiy diseases koumiss plays a gi'eat part, and Hei-zenstem ascribes to it Over and above its nutritive value a specific action on the mucous membranes, the secretions being increased and a slight Irrita- tion set iip. Chronic bronchitis is thus rapidly and radically cured by koumiss. Consumption is not cured, but the strength of the patients ■ is maintained, the fever lessened, and a number of concomitant Sym- ptoms removed, especially catarrhs of the bronchi and of the digestive Organs, and thus a great influence for good is exerted on the general- condition. Ouly copious hasmoptysis and a high temperature con- traindicate it. Its beneficial effects in emphysema are also due to the relief of bronchial catarrh. Koumiss has, on account of its diuretic and diaphoretic action, great influence in the removal of pleuritic efiusions. [The diuresis, &c., appear to be no more than the removal of the excess of water ingested in the form of the- koumiss itself, and consequently any influence on pleural efiusions, <fec., is more than doubtful.—TßANS.] In diseases of the heart not involvins: the valves it has been found useful. Cases too are- described of the eure of chronic Urethritis and leucorrhcea. Among diseases of the nervous System those only can be success- fully treated which are unaccompanied by any organic changes in the brain.^ Koumiss is obviously contra-indicated in general plethora and any tendency to apoplexy. In abdominal plethora Herzenstein and- almost every authority except Postnikofl^ are opposed to its employ- ment. In acute febrile disease few physicians would give it, but this has no bearing on the exhausting fever of phthisis, diseases of the bones, &c. Herzenstein does not think pregnancy any contra-indication, having himself seen a pregnant woman -with infiltration of the apices who bore the treatment very well. Koumiss is, however, unsuited for renal calculus and hypertemia or inflammatory conditions of the kidney, and absolute contra-indications are presented by organic dis- eases of the heart and pericax'dium (excepting scrofulous pericarditis),, as well as aneurism and inflammation of the arteriös. Chronic metritis and Oophoritis are indeed held to be contra-indications by some, but fm-ther Observation is wanted in this direction. It is clear that when there is an obstruction to the flow of blood through the liver, as well as in inflammations of this organ, koumiss ' It is but right to observe liere that this part of bis werk, as well as that wliich follows on the contra-indications, is entirely based on published records. and theoretical conclusions.