Collected papers on pharmacology and therapeutics.

  • Phillips, Charles D. F. (Charles Douglas Fergusson), 1830-1904.
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Collected papers on pharmacology and therapeutics. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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

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    mended by Thompson cannot be tolerated for any length of time. They may seem at first to stimu- late, or rather over-stimulate, the nerve-centresy but after a short time they depress in a disastrous manner; whilst the small doses of one three- hundredth to one-fiftieth grain, continued for a length of time, nourish and strengthen nervous tissue, without any evidence of undue excitement. A gradual alterative action is what is desired. Gubler found phosphide of zinc removed the sensation of fatigue after hard work, improved the appetite and digestion, and conduced to sleep. He gave one-half grain with an ordinary diges- tive pill at dinner-time ; but this dose is too large, and is liable to nauseate. When the nervous sys- tem is below par, so that slight impressions are too deeply felt and the nerve-controlling power is im- paired, phosphorus has been found to supply what is wanting for a time ; it has been said to improve intellectual tone in those subjected to either mono- tonous brain-work, or to an unusual mental effort. In the convalescence from many acute diseases the hypophosphites are valuable, and the same may be said of conditions of general debility, whether arising from defective hygienic conditions, or from prolonged anxiety or overstrain. In cases of chronic exhaustion of brain power, or of general nervous exhaustion consequent on chronic functional diseases, small doses continued for some months are advisable, and have been