Dr Todd and the late member for Ashton : fatal effect of the stimulating treatment of disease (in a letter to the editor of the Medical Circular, February 29, 1860) : to which is added a short account of Dr Todd's professional career, and an epitome of his stimulating doctrine, with an answer to the fallacious charges brought against the author / A.B. Granville.

  • Augustus Granville
Date:
1860
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dr Todd and the late member for Ashton : fatal effect of the stimulating treatment of disease (in a letter to the editor of the Medical Circular, February 29, 1860) : to which is added a short account of Dr Todd's professional career, and an epitome of his stimulating doctrine, with an answer to the fallacious charges brought against the author / A.B. Granville. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    known to be poetical, but prophetic ;—alluding to my prediction of Nicholas' death. I left the consultation, and the brandy doses were ordered to be continued. Returning home on foot from Dartmouth House, I chanced to meet a parliamentary friend of my patient, and an old patient of mine, who, with me, had only three months before seen his friend healthy and vigorous in Germany, albeit afflicted at the sudden loss of his only child; and to him I communicated my worst anticipations: Here is a chance for you, Sir Charles, if you are anxious to return to Parliament: the Member for Ashton is djdng. They are giving liim at the rate of a pint and a half of brandy every twenty-four hours; and if that system is continued, he will be a dead man in three days. Sir Charles was quite shocked sit the suddenness of the announcement: he was not, however, prepared or willing to look for a borough with which he had not the most remote connection; but he knew a gentleman, lately repudiated by his former constituents, who was not a stranger to the locality, and to whom such information as I had just given woiild be of the utmost service if given with so much assurance; for I know, observed Sir Charles, I can rely upon your judgment, and he shall have it immediately. Thus we parted. It will presently be seen what this extraneous digression has to do with my narrative. As in duty bound, I did not fail to impress that same day my apprehension and my solemn protest against the manner in which the patient was treated on his relative, who kept watching him with great anxiety. I added that, but for my gi-eat personal regard, I should discontinue my visits; at the same time I felt that, as the physician in charge, I ought not to abandon my post, though unable to do good. On the following Sunday, 29th November, therefore, I met again the consultation early in the morning. In a report in writing by Mr Lavies, that gentleman seemed inclined to form a favourable opinion of the case. Upon exa- mination, however, I found the pulse at 32 in the quarter- minute ; tongue diy and brown, with sordes on the teeth ; the wrist and hand hot, without any perspiration; the face elongated ; no possibility of getting him to answer a single question, except a rc]ietition of the last word of the question