A handbook of the theory and practice of medicine / by Frederick T. Roberts.
- Frederick Thomas Roberts
- Date:
- 1885
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A handbook of the theory and practice of medicine / by Frederick T. Roberts. Source: Wellcome Collection.
28/1050 page 10
![obvious, and require no comment. It is necessary, however, to call special attention to tlie fact that some of these may gain an entrance into the body in connection with the occupation of an individual or in some other way, without being directly administered as poisons or medicines. This is seen in the deleterious effects, local or general, which are produced by lead, mercury, phosphorus, arsenic, copper, gold, and other substances. With respect to arsenic, it is important to observe that one of its compounds may be given off as a fine powder from certain papers used for papering rooms, being afterwards inhaled along with the atmosphere in which it floats, thus giving rise to symp- toms of poisoning. 2. Causes originating in the vegetable kingdom—(i.) Many of the ordinary poisons are derived from this source, such as opium, (ii.) Parasitic plants growing in various structures of the body are frequent causes of disease, especially of skin-affections. The presence of certain minute fungi (sarcince) in the stomach is supposed occasion- ally to excite vomiting, (iii.) Decom]josing vegetable matter often does much harm. It is particularly injurious by producing malarial or miasmatic poiso7is, so prevalent in marshy districts. These give rise mainly to ague and remittent fevers, but also to certain nervous dis- orders and other complaints. This subject will be discussed in detail in a later portion of this work, (iv.) It is believed by many that contagion is due to low vegetable organisms. 3. Causes originating in the animal kingdom.—(i.) Certain animals are venomous, and are capable of inflicting poisoned wounds, for example, serpents, (ii.) Some animals are poisonous if taken inter- nally, such as cantharides. (iii.) Parasites derived from the animal kingdom very commonly set up morbid conditions. The various intes- tinal worms, and the external parasites which infest the skin afford illustrations, (iv.) Sioecijic contagious poisons.—A number of very im- portant diseases originate from the entrance into the system of certain specific poisons, which are transmitted from some other animal to man, or from one human being to another, for instance, hydrophobia, small- pox, scarlatina, syphilis. These will call for special and detailed con- sideration hereafter. 4. Causes originating within the system.—Some morbid condi- tions are due to the presence of a poison in the blood, which has been generated within the body, as the result of perversion of the functions of digestion, assimilation, and nutrition. Gout furnishes an illustration, and once developed the malady may be hereditarily transmitted. Chapter III. SYMPTOMATOLOGY OR SEMEIOLOGY. A SYMPTOM may be defined as any phenomenon which in the living subject gives evidence of the existence of a diseased condition. It is necessary to explain certain terms which are usually employed to indicate the nature of symptoms. 1. General or Constitutional and Local.—These imply respectively that the symptoms are referred to the](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b20400111_0028.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
