The Lettsomian lectures delivered at the Medical Society of London, 1872, on the pathology and treatment of some diseases of the liver / by S.O. Habershon.

  • Habershon, S. O. (Samuel Osborne), 1825-1889.
Date:
1872
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Lettsomian lectures delivered at the Medical Society of London, 1872, on the pathology and treatment of some diseases of the liver / by S.O. Habershon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    or in some otlier way, that the gland is functionally disturbed. It is in these instances, that the treatment must often be directed to the nervous system, by im- proving the general health, or by removal to a purer atmosphere; and, if medicines be used, those are most likely to be of service which act upon the nervous system, such as arsenic, nux vomica, nitro-muriatic acid, &c. In a second class of liver disturbance, the heematinic relation is affected as well as the secretion of bile, but in a transient manner. The urine contains an excess of colouring matter, of bile elements, or rather of uro-haematine. We find an evidence of this altered nerve-function in the ordinary bilious attack, and we may ask what is the true pathology of this state? It is sometimes spoken of as stomach-disturbance, and it is in the sto- mach that the mischief commences. The patient expe- riences a sense of faintness and exhaustion, it may be with pain at the stomach, vomiting, headache, furred tongue, and loaded urine. In a short time these symptons sub- side, and health is restored; but how is this condition pro- duced ? The irritation of the mucous membrane of the stomach from excess induces weakness or paralysis of the vaso-motor nerve of the liver; there is more blood con- tained in the gland, the secretion of bile is interfered with, the countenance becomes sallow, the urine altered and thick; at the same time there are often pallor and faintness, for the vaso-motor nerve of the heart is acted upon. Again, the tongue is furred, not, we believe, from direct extension of mischief from the stomach