Volume 3

Elements of the theory and practice of physic : designed for the use of students / by George Gregory.

  • George Gregory
Date:
1823
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Elements of the theory and practice of physic : designed for the use of students / by George Gregory. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    85/426 (page 65)
    its efficacy is manifested in that improved appearance of the tongue and alvine evacuations, which fre- quently results. No doubt can be entertained respecting the pro- priety of exhibiting purgative medicines during the whole course of continued fever. For this purpose, nations of jalap or rhubarb with calomel, as in the form (N°. 6.) are well adapted for the commencement of fevers.* The great weakness which prevails in fever natu- rally led to the employment of cordial and tonic medicines, more particularly wine, ether, camphor, musk, bark and aromatics; but it is now generally acknowledged, that the indiscriminate use of stimu- lant remedies in fever is highly pernicious ; that they have a tendency to aggravate many of those local determinations, from which danger is chiefly to be apprehended; and therefore, that their employment is to be regulated by circumstances, no less than that of blood-letting. The period of the disease, the particular situation in which it appears, its exciting cause, the age, constitution, and former habits of the patient, are of course to be taken into account; but we are chiefly to be guided by the * See ‘‘ Observations on the utility and administration of Purga- tive Medicines in several diseases,” by Dr. James Hamilton; a work of great merit. F