An essay on the cerebral affections occurring most commonly in infancy and childhood : including notices of their history, causes, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment ; being the Council prize essay, awarded at the annual meeting of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, held at Bath, on Wednesday and Thursday, August 16th and 17th, 1848 / by Valentine Duke.

  • Duke, Valentine.
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay on the cerebral affections occurring most commonly in infancy and childhood : including notices of their history, causes, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment ; being the Council prize essay, awarded at the annual meeting of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, held at Bath, on Wednesday and Thursday, August 16th and 17th, 1848 / by Valentine Duke. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

    23/100 (page 19)
    opium, or too frequent use of antispasmodics ; but aim rather at removal of the cause. In cases of morbid irritation, and sometimes also in the hy- drencephaloid disease, we do use opium and sti- mulants with advantage. The termination must always depend upon the cause, and on success in its removal. The danger of a fatal termination is not greatest in the most delicate children. The long continuance of convulsions may give rise to very serious injury of the sensorium. When they resist treatment, and recur constantly, always order change of air ; and very likely, in such cases, tonics may be necessary. ACUTE MENINGITIS. Amongst the most rapidly fatal of the diseases of the brain in children, is acute inflammation of that organ and its membranes. Fortunately, it is a disease of comparative rarity in this country, and some authors still describe it as only a variety of hydrocephalus. There are very abundant reasons, however, for considering it as a distinct affection, as its causes, course, and termination fully testify. Unlike the tubercular meningitis, to be described hereafter, this affection usually attacks strong and previously healthy children, and in a very sudden manner. It is generally so acute, and accompanied by such severe symptoms, that it is not long over- looked, but very soon comes under medical care ;