On diseases of the throat and windpipe : as reflected by the laryngoscope; a complete manual upon their diagnosis and treatment.

  • Gibb, G. Duncan (George Duncan), Sir, 1821-1876.
Date:
1864
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On diseases of the throat and windpipe : as reflected by the laryngoscope; a complete manual upon their diagnosis and treatment. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

    35/512 (page 13)
    in healing up the ulcers at the root of the epiglottis, but not at the commencement. Constitutional treatment.—In the follicular disease of the throat which presents the granulated appearance from hyper- trophy, the most useful preparations will be found those of iodine. They will cure when other substances have been tried in vain. My favorite remedy is the ioduretted iodide of potas- sium, or a weak Lugol's solution, combined with some carmi- native and tonic, of which the hydrastin, the active principle of the Hydrastis Canadensis, is one of the best. Although the action of iodine on the system is now pretty well known, in its causing the disappearance of glandular and other enlargements, yet it exerts a specific influence on the throat, for after it has been taken for some time it causes a heat and dryness of the mucous membrane of the fauces and pharynx. When iodine and iodide of potassium are combined, the dose to produce the desired effect need not be large, unless there is some other indication besides the throat-affection for its increased employ- ment. The iodide of ammonium also is a reliable preparation in small doses, and may be substituted for the potassium salt in many cases; or either may be replaced by the bromide of ammonium, especially if there is much irritation of the fauces and larynx. These two salts are prepared in a very pure form by Messrs. Eincham, of Baker Street, and require to be given pure to produce their good effects. Occasionally the bromide of potassium has replaced the iodide in my hands with evident advantage, but I now give a preference to the ammonium base. In advanced cases lozenges of the Eucalyptus Rostrata, the red gum of Western Australia, are of extreme value from the permanently astringent powers they possess; these are pre- pared by Mr. Squire, of Oxford Street, who has also made lozenges of the bromide of ammonium. In giving these remedies attention should be paid to the secretions by the use of mercurials in alterative doses, or the use of aloes, or regulated doses of the j}odop/iylliu} the active prin-