Elements of surgery: for the use of students : with plates (Volume 1).

  • Dorsey, John Syng, 1783-1818.
Date:
1818
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Elements of surgery: for the use of students : with plates (Volume 1). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    the constitution sinks, and death takes place. The use of tonics and stimulant medicines, are necessary in these cases. Peruvian bark, elixir of vitriol, and opium, are among the most useful. When a part has been exposed to intense cold, the greatest care should be taken to raise its temperature gradually, as it is found invariably to mortify when heat is suddenly applied. It should first be placed in ice or snow, afterwards in cold water, and very gradually warmed. In some rare instances, mortification comes on without any evident cause, except extreme debility. I have known an instance of this after a severe attack of yellow fever. This is, probably, not preceded by inflammation. II. Mortification in many instances is preceded by in- flammation. 1. It may arise from the violence of the in- flammatory action exhausting the vital powers of the part; or, 2dly, from some peculiarity in the nature of the inflammation. 1. Inflammation is an increased action of that power which a part naturally possesses, and in healthy inflam- mations at least, it is probably attended with an increase of power. In cases however which are to terminate in mortification, there is no increase of power, but on the contrary a diminution of it. This when joined to an in- creased action, becomes a cause of mortification, by de- stroying the balance which ought to subsist between the power and action of every part.'' (Hunter.) When inflammation has, either not been properly treated, or has resisted the remedies usually successful, and is about to terminate in mortification, the pain and fever suddenly ceases, the heat is diminished, the red colour is changed to a dark purple, and the swelling which was tense and hard, becomes softer. The cuticle is elevated in various places and vesications form, filled