Transactions of the Eclectic Medical Society of the State of New York, for the year 1867 : transmitted to the legislature January 17, 1868.

  • Eclectic Medical Society of the State of New York
Date:
1868
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Transactions of the Eclectic Medical Society of the State of New York, for the year 1867 : transmitted to the legislature January 17, 1868. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    of croup, and have not lost a single case. I employ the liquid chloride of soda externally, clear. It is a very powerful agent and will soon vesicate. Internally I use it sometimes a little stronger than Dr. Smith stated. It is antiseptic and removes any inflammatory action. In many cases, where I have been called, in consultation, it was thought impossible for the patient to live, but the application of this remedy brought relief in every case. Its use is not confined to diphtheria, but it also applies in croup. I have never seen the remedy recommended in print, and so far as I know, it has never been employed outside the sphere of my labors. In milder forms of the disease it will not be required of the full strength given. It is strongly alkaline and seems to have a spe- cific effect on diseases about the glands of the throat. Where a false membrane is formed, it may be used every twenty minutes or half hour, uutil destroyed. For older children, or adults, it can be used as a gargle ; in younger patients it is necessary to apply it with a swab—at the same time it should be applied externally. I have only used it in high states of inflammation. When it is swal- lowed no bad results have occurred. If a large quantity were swallowed it might probably be antidoted by acids. Prof. Allen said he regarded such facts as these of great value where they have stood the test of observation in a number of cases and by different persons. He had found great success in cases of croup by the use of the acetous syrup of sanguinaria. His manner of employing it is to take a drachm of powdered bloodroot to half a pint of boiling water ; let it stand for a moment, then strain it off clear and add an equal quantity of pure cider vinegar. Of that mixture of vinegar and strained infusion of bloodroot put a certain portion in a teacup, and sweeten it with sugar, making a syrup. Keep giving this to the patient once in every five or ten minutes to dissolve the membrane. This is almost a specific in cases of membranous croup. Sanguinaria seems to exert a specific influence upon that condition of the throat which develops the membrane. He had been successful within the last few years in cases where he would formerly have failed. Dr. A. said: This is not original with me, but was obtained from Dr. Jones’ work. It has been tested by myself and others, and has been very successful. I suppose the acetic acid may have something to do with dissolving the membrane, but have not fully investigated the subject. I regard the false membrane in croup as the product [Assem. No. 25.] 2