The past and present treatment of intestinal obstructions, reviewed, with an improved treatment indicated / by Hugh Owen Thomas.

  • Thomas, Hugh Owen, 1834-1891.
Date:
1879
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The past and present treatment of intestinal obstructions, reviewed, with an improved treatment indicated / by Hugh Owen Thomas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    a probability of success, as the other methods increase the improbability of the patient's recovery. The 'British Medical Journal,' of July last contains the report of a very instructive case of intes- tinal lesion partially treated by opium, for perusing it I notice that the treatment was commenced by calomel, opium, and enemata on the first day, the enemata being repeated twice the same day, and the latter being repeated on the day the prac- titioner judged the patient had been relieved of the difficulty. This case is the nearest approach to Dr. Syden- ham's method that I have met with amongst repor- ted cases, and very strongly confirms the opinion that I have formed during my own experience, that in the majority of these cases the administration of opium by the month is of little avail, having but slight control over the complaint. Judging from the symptoms recorded, I should class this case as one of enteritis progressing to resolution unafiected by opium. I have frequently met with cases in which, from some cause, opium given by the month in large medicinal doses seemed to have none of its usual physiological or therapeutical effects. These examples indicate that the treatment in the early part of the present century differed in no way from that of our time, except that we have added to