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
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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![itself. The pupil, wlieu the eyelid was drawn up, appeared dilated, and the light contracted it but slightly. There were twitchings of the hands ; the abdomen was extensively dis- tended by flatus, a great quantity of which had passed away through a canula introduced into the rectum through the night; no faeces had been evacuated, and the urine had come away involuntarily: in fact, here was a man, in my opinion, made artificially apoplectic. Dr Todd proposed to sluice the head with cold water, so intensely hot was it. I raised it with some difficu^lty from the pillow, wliile the Doctor suddenly placed on the crown a large sponge vnih cold water, squeezing it at the same time. It made the patient start on his seat and give a scream, putting up both his hands at the same time to rub down liis hair. I told him it was his favourite cold shower-bath he was so fond of, and took the opportunity of asking some questions, but no answers came. He remained afterwards some time on his right elbow without being supported, and stroked down the wet hair again with his left hand, his eyes remaining closed all the time. I urged a repetition of the cold water: Dr Todd complied, and an immense evolution of heat and steam followed. The nurse had reported liim to have been more restless, that he picked his clothes and tried to tear them ; nevertheless, a dose of the brandy was again ad- ministered in my presence. I turned away in grief and went down stairs, followed by the other physicians, who were immediately called back, as the patient had been sick. They returned to *me, saying it was notliing. Much dis- cussion now ensued. I maintained my opposition to the continuance of these frequent alcoholic ingestions, and urged their cessation. Dr Bright related the case of a niece of Dr Clutterbiick, reduced to a similar state by a con- tinuous use of stimulants under Dr Southwood Smith, which the uncle took upon himself to sto]) at once, and the young lady recovered. I thought Dr Bright was about to side with me ; but nO:—he agreed, on the contrary, -with Dr Todd for a repetition of an ounce of brandy every hour, instead of every half-hour, as before; to diminish the quinine dose from six to three grains every six hours ; to sponge the head every hoiir ; and if some real tnrtle-souji could be procured, to give it. On that da}- a professional journey to Enheld prevented my being present at the next consultation, which a little note I found from Dr Bright,](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b22300922_0018.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
