The modern practice of physic, which points out the characters ... and improved method of treating the diseases of all climates / [Robert Thomas].

  • Thomas, Robert, 1753-1835
Date:
1834
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The modern practice of physic, which points out the characters ... and improved method of treating the diseases of all climates / [Robert Thomas]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    11/1054
    Order III.] INFLAMMATORY SORE THROAT, 215 those of a full and plethoric habit; and is chiefly confined to cold climates, occurring usually in the spring and winter ; whereas the eynanche maligna chiefly attacks those of a weak irritable habit, and is most prevalent in warm climates. The former differs from the latter likewise in not being contagious. In many people there seems to be a particular tendency to this disease, as from every considerable application of cold it is readily induced. Habit greatly increases the disposition to the disease. An inflammatory sore throat discovers itself by a difficulty of swallowing and breathing, accompanied by a redness and tumour in one or both tonsils, dryness of the throat, foulness of the tongue, lancinating pains in the parts affected, hoarseness of the voice, a frequent but difficult excretion of mucus, and some small degree of fever. As the disease advances, the difficulty of swal¬ lowing and breathing becomes greater, the speech is very in¬ distinct, the dryness of the throat and the thirst increase, the food and drink attempted to be swallowed are returned through the nose, the tongue swells and is encrusted with fur, and the pulse is full, hard, and frequent, beating from 100 to 140 in a minute. In a few cases, small white sloughy spots are to be observed on the tonsils, and in very violent ones there is complete deafness. When the symptoms of eynanche are considerable, the whole face par¬ takes of it, the eyes are inflamed, and the cheeks florid and swelled, respiration is performed with difficulty, and the patient is obliged to be supported in nearly an erect posture to prevent suffocation. Even delirium and coma sometimes supervene. If the inflamma¬ tion proceeds to such a height as to put a total stop to respira¬ tion, the face will become livid, the pulse will sink, and the patient quickly be destroyed. The chief danger arising from this species of quinsy is the inflammation occupying both tonsils, and proceeding to such a degree as to prevent a sufficient quantity of nourishment for the support of nature being taken, or its wholly impeding respira¬ tion ; but this seldom happens, and its usual termination is either in resolution or suppuration. When proper steps are adopted early, it will in general readily go off by the former. Cynanche tonsillaris rarely terminates either in gangrene or scirrhus. Oc¬ casionally a great degree of debility arises, and the convalescence is protracted for some weeks. Not unfrequently a permanent enlarge¬ ment of the tonsils remains, and particularly in persons of a scro¬ fulous diathesis. Little fever, free respiration, deglutition not much impeded, the inflammation being of a vivid red colour, universal but gentle diaphoresis, and a copious ptyalism or moderate diarrhoea coming on about the fifth day, are to be regarded as symptoms which de¬ note a termination of the disease in resolution. When suppuration is likely to ensue, the parts affected become more pale and less painful, a sense of pulsation is felt in them, and there are slight rigors. The suppuration sometimes takes