The modern practice of physic : exhibiting the characters, causes, symptoms, prognostics, morbid appearances, and improved method of treating the diseases of all climates / by Robert Thomas, M.D., of Salisbury, England.

  • Robert Thomas
Date:
1815
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The modern practice of physic : exhibiting the characters, causes, symptoms, prognostics, morbid appearances, and improved method of treating the diseases of all climates / by Robert Thomas, M.D., of Salisbury, England. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    effect the more certain, we may join small doses of opium witii it, administering them in the form of a pill.* If we find the subniu- riate of mercury not to answer our wishes, we should substitute the pilula ex hydrargyro, the patient taking one or two every night at bed-time, as may be judged necessary. If the disease yields readily, a short course of mercury will be sufficient; but if not, its use ought to be continued for, perhaps, five or six weeks. When assistance has not been procured in due time, or the means whicji have been employed to carry off the inflammation in the liver have not been attended with the desired effect, and sup- puration has ensued, we must endeavour to promote the formation of proper pus, and the discharge of the abscess externally. To effect the first of these intentions, the patient should be directed to take a drachm of the pov/dered bark of cinchona every two or three hours, using at the same time a generous nutritive diet, mth a moderate quantity of wine, which course ought to be continued until the suppuration is completed, and to promote the second intention, a large emollient poultice should be kept con- stantly over the part, well fomenting it twice a day, previous to the application thereof. When the tumour points outwardly, and has become somewhat soft, with evident fluctuation, we should open it in the most dependent part, taking care to prevent the wound from closing until all the matter is discharged. The opening may be made through the external integuments with a scalpel, and on reaching the abscess it may either be touched with a lancet, or be pierced with a trocar, which may be the preferable way, as we shall thereby have it in our power to evacuate the matter slowly, and gradually, which in large collections is a point of importance, and therefore deser^dng of attention. Suppuration of the liver is a dis- ease of such frequent occurrence in tiie East Indies and other warm climates, that the practitioners there, are become very expert at tliis operation, and frequently perform it with safety when the tu- mour does not point at all, judging merely by the preceding pro- gress of the case, and the degree of fulness in the hypochondrium. Abscesses in the liver, sooner heal when opened, than similar affections in any other part of the body, and perhaps with less in- convenience ; and therefore, whenever v/e have good grounds for suspecting that matter has formed in this viscus, we may advise an opening to be made into the abscess, v/hether situated on the con- rex part of it or not, in preference to suffering it to break inter- R. Hydrargyr. Subraur. Opii. Camphorse aa ^j. Syrup. Simpl. q. s. M, ft. Massa in Pilulas aequales Ix. distri- busnda. Capiat j. Tel. ij. prodos. ]J. Hydrargyr. Submuriat. gj. Opii Purif. Jss. Antimon. Tartarizat. gr. v. Syrup. Simpl. q. s. M. ft. Massa. in Pilul. Ix. divid. j. mane et hoc- te quotidie sumenda.