Johnson's family physician : from the ablest medical authorities, giving numerous and dangerous diseases to which the human race is subject, the symptoms and treatment, or what is necessary to be done in an emergency for the patient before the physician arrives, thereby alleviating suffering and often saving life / by E. Darwin Hudson, with articles from the most eminent physicians, among whom are Willard Parker [and others].

  • Hudson, E. Darwin (Erasmus Darwin), Jr., 1843-1887.
Date:
1880
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Johnson's family physician : from the ablest medical authorities, giving numerous and dangerous diseases to which the human race is subject, the symptoms and treatment, or what is necessary to be done in an emergency for the patient before the physician arrives, thereby alleviating suffering and often saving life / by E. Darwin Hudson, with articles from the most eminent physicians, among whom are Willard Parker [and others]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    example, as may occur in uterine disease. Others state that irritability and congestion of the bronchial mucous membrane are es- sential elements of the disease; and the readiness with which powdered ipecac, the exhalations from feathers, etc., will excite paroxysms, would appear to confirm this view. It is rare to find structural changes of any organ in cases of simple asthma. The trained diagnostician alone can dis- criminate between asthma and dyspnoea from other chest diseases. True or nerv- ous asthma consists in a paroxysmal spasm of longer or shorter duration, attacking the muscular elements of the bronchial tubes, diminishing temporarily their calibre, and thereby obstructing respiration. Notwith- standing the great distress which may ac- company the attack, the immediate danger is not great. The smoking of saltpetre-pa- per or of stramonium-leaves, the administra- tion of opiates, coffee, belladonna, conium, cannabis, chloral, vapor of chloroform, etc., niay or may not relieve the paroxysm. Io- dide of potassium benefits many cases, per- manently or temporarily. Quinia, Fowler's solution, iron, and other tonics are often useful. A nutritious diet, with careful reg- ulation of the bowels, is important. The compressed air-bath and inhalation of oxy- gen are recommended as affording great re- lief during the paroxysm. Asthma in many cases is accompanied by a bronchial ca- tarrh. Astig'matism. See Eye, Diseases of. Atax'ia. See Spine, Diseases of. Ausculta'tion, application of the ear to the surface of the body, chiefly to the chest for the detection of the healthy and diseased sounds of the heart and lungs. Bald^ness (alopecia), [Gr. ojm-ktj^, a fox, this animal being subject to baldness]. Loss of hair may be either general or partial, sudden or gradual. It occurs in men more often than in women. Senile baldness, the result of age, comes on gradually, the hair becoming thin on the crown or on the temples and forehead. It results from loss of nutritive activity of the hair-follicles, which atrophy and render the loss irre- parable. When baldness follows severe sickness, or results prematurely from con- stitutional debility or nervous shock and overwork, the hair-follicles are intact though inert, and may be stimulated to new activ- ity by tonic applications. Best, regular habits, good diet, cod-liver oil, iron, and tonics generally, by invigorating the sys- tem, favor the regrowtli of the hair. The capillary circulation of the scalp must be stimulated by shampooing, kneading, brush- ing, and by the use of lotions which irritate without stimulating. Cantharides and am- monia, in union with oils or unguents, are very efficacious in curing baldness. Ban^dages [from the Anglo-Saxon hin^dan, to bind; literally, anything used for bind- ing], the bands or wrappers used by sur- geons to dress wounds, to compress bleeding vessels, to rectify the deformity produced by fractures or other injuries, and to unite parts in which there is a solution of continuity. They are commonly composed of soft mus- lin, linen, or flannel. Sometimes they are made immovable after application by being soaked in starch or glue. The art of band- aging consists in applying pressure with exactly the required firmness, and evenly. It is important to avoid interrupting tlie circulation of the blood. Unskilful band- aging has caused mortification of a limb. The arm should never be tightly bandaged (unless temporarily, to arrest haemorrhage) without the hand being subjected to an equal amount of pressure; and the same rule applies with regard to the leg and foot. To make a bandage fit well upon a limb, the roller should be drawn smoothly as far as it can be, and then reversed by a turn of the hand from time to time, pro- ducing a spiral by the overlapping of the successive turns. A bandage for the arm may be from two to two and a quarter inches wide; for the lower extremity, two and a half inches; for the chest, three inches. In the treatment of wounds, how- ever, and of stumps of amputated limbs, bandages are less resorted to now than for- merly, many surgeons preferring lighter and cooler dressings, with adhesive strips, etc. One of the most useful of bandages for emergencies is the Spanish windlass, to check serious bleeding from any part of either extremity. It is merely a strip of muslin or a pocket handkerchief passed around the upper part of the limb, tied in a knot, and then twisted firmly by a stick or bayonet passed under it, so as to press with sufficient force to arrest the arterial circulation. It must not be left on many hours, but its temporary application has often saved life. In like manner, free bleeding from a wound of the scalp may be controlled by a compress and bandage tightly applied around the head. Esmarck's bandage is an elastic ribbon of rubber for application to the arm or leg before ampu- tation or other serious operations. By its compression the blood of the member is ex- pelled upwards into the vessels of the body, and the operation is rendered bloodless. Eubber bandages are also used with brilliant results in treating ulcers and varicose veins and reducing dropsical swelling in the legs. Dextrine or starch bandages, the plaster- of-Paris bandage, and water-glass bandage