First lines of the practice of physic (Volume 2).

  • Cullen, William, 1710-1790.
Date:
1806
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: First lines of the practice of physic (Volume 2). 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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    genital system ; and it seems sufficiently probable that this discharge may often have a shave in occasioning barrenness. 991.] The matter discharged in the leucorrhoea, is at first generally mild ; but after some continuance of the disease, it sometimes becomes acrid ;* and by irritating, or per- haps eroding, the surfaces over which it passes, induces various painful disorders. 992.] As I have supposed that the leucorrhoea proceeds from the same causes as that species of monorrhagia which is chieflv owing to a laxity of the uterine vessels, it must be treated, and the cure attempted, by the same means as delivered in 98 f, for the cure of menorrhagia, and with less reserve in respect to the use of astringents.f 993.] As the leucorrhoea generally depends upon a great loss of tone in the vessels of the uterus, the disease has been relieved, and sometimes cured by certain stimulant medicines, which are commonly determined to the urinary passages, and from the vicinity of these are often commu- nicated to the uterus. Such, for example, are cantharides, turpentine, and other balsams of a similar nature.^ * The young practitioner must not conclude too hastily that an ulcer exists in the uterus when the matter discharged is acrid. Practice has afforded many instances where the matter has ex- coriated the pudenda, and yet no ulcer existed. + The electuary mentioned at the end of the last note on article 982. has been found effica- cious in some cases of leucorrhoea. Its dose may be increased to a drachm thrice a-day, cither swallowed as a bolus, or dissolved in an ounce of pure water, and half an ounce of simple cin- namon water. The chalybeate waters are useful in this, as well as in the former disease ; and they may be used in the manner above mentioned. Practitioners recommend, in these cases, a nutritive but not a heating diet, as mucilaginous broths made with rice, especially veal-broih, jellies of all kinds, except those that are high-sea- soned. Port wine must be prescribed in a moderate quantity, according to the habits of the patient. } The practice here recommended is not without danger, and must not be followed except with great caution and circumspection. When the other means fail producing relief, wc may then have recourse to these balsamics, or join them to the tonic astringents, as, R. Gum. oliban. Terebinth, venet. Alum. Terr. Japonic, aa. 3i- Sal. martis 3ss. M. f. massa. in pilulas aequales No. 60. dividend. Two or three of these pills may be given twice a day or oftener. Some practitioners have strongly recommended the following emulsion. R. Balsam, copaivi. 31, Vitel. ovi No. 1. Tere in mortar, marmor. et adde gradatim, Aq. font. §vii. Syr. Simpl. §i. M. f. Emuls. The dose of this emulsion is two or three spoonfuls three or four times a da<.