An inaugural essay on the bilious typhus which prevailed in Bancker-Street and its vicinity, in the city of New York, in the summer and autumn of 1820 / [Richard Pennell].

  • Pennell, Richard, -1861
Date:
1821
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An inaugural essay on the bilious typhus which prevailed in Bancker-Street and its vicinity, in the city of New York, in the summer and autumn of 1820 / [Richard Pennell]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    shape, drinks composed of the vegetable acids, as lemonade, tamarind water, vinegar whey, were prepared ; and in those cases, whose system exhibited great exhaustion, a preference was given to porter, ale, wine whey, and vege¬ table nourishments, viz. tapioca, sago, arrow-root; render¬ ed grateful by the addition of wine. Snake root and cha¬ momile tea were also freely given, as soon as the febrile symptoms abated. Anodynes were also prescribed with great benefit in those cases where delirium and watchfulness occurred. u In cases of local congestion of the brain, lungs, or ab¬ dominal viscera, or where the fever continued with unusual obstinacy, blisters were prescribed with the most beneficial effects. “ When a perfect apyrexia was obtained, bark, bitters, and the mineral acids, were had recourse to ; animal food was also then allowed, but during the progress of the fever, this was altogether inadmissible ; even in the form of soup, so commonly, but improperly given in the typhoid form of fever. u In some cases where the disease occurred in a full habit of body, attended with symptoms indicating local inflam¬ mation of the thoracic, or abdominal viscera, or exhibiting an inordinate pressure on the brain, bloodletting was em¬ ployed in the commencement, but, in the latter stages, the lancet was, in no instance, called for*.'” “ How often,” (says Moseley,) “ have I seen and lament¬ ed, the effects of emetic tartar, given to remove the sup¬ posed cause of the treacherous symptom of vomiting ! Even in slight degrees of fever, [yellow fever,] in the West Indies, in young plethoric subjects, newly arrived, the stomach has been sometimes destroyed by it. Instead of removing the irritating sickness of this fever, or exciting diaphoresis, a spasm has been produced in the stomach ; incessant vo¬ miting, and inflammation; the vessels of the thorax and head * Extract of a letter from Dr. Hosack to the author.