Outlines of practice : a handbook of the prognosis and treatment of disease, with formulae / by Samuel Fenwick.

  • Fenwick, Samuel, 1821-1902.
Date:
1882
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Outlines of practice : a handbook of the prognosis and treatment of disease, with formulae / by Samuel Fenwick. 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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    • flamed structures. This may result either from the large num- ber of white cells which have migrated from the congested ves- sels, or from the affected tissues being stimulated by the dis- ease. Now, the exudation may, by the irritation it produces, keep up inflammatory action, or it may obstruct the recovery of the inflamed organ mechanically. In either case you may have to interfere, so as to permit the reparative power to come into play. For example, a case of pleurisy may have termi- nated (as far as the inflammation is concerned), but the exuda- tion may be still compressing the lung and preventing the recovery of its functions. Here the use of the aspirator re- moves the load from the organ, and allows the due expansion of the pulmonary structures. Formerly it was universally believed that mercury exercised a specific effect on the inflammatory process, and had the power of preventing or absorbing exudations. The student was taught, in every case of inflammation, to prescribe this drug and to persevere with it until salivation showed that the system was saturated with it. At the present day it is seldom employed, and its power of checking inflammation is doubted. I have, however, seen mercurial treatment of decided benefit where re- peated attacks of subacute inflammation have occurred in the same structure, more especially in the case of the serous mem- branes. In the removal of inflammatory exudations you must vary your methods of procedure according to the structure affected. If the exudation is liquid, as in the case of the serous mem- branes, you may often assist absorption by lessening the amount of fluid in the vascular system, by means of hydragogue cathar- tics, diuretics, or sudorifics. Where the mucous membranes are affected you may have to alter the state of the secretions, or to assist in their expulsion, by stimulating the muscular structures that surround them. Again, you may often remove exudations