The curability of consumption: being the reprint of a series of papers, presenting the most prominent and important practical points in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of the disease / [Francis Hopkins Ramadge].

  • Ramadge, Francis Hopkins, 1793-1867
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The curability of consumption: being the reprint of a series of papers, presenting the most prominent and important practical points in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of the disease / [Francis Hopkins Ramadge]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    about eighteen months after the operation, and was attributable to exhaustion from fresh liquefaction and its sequelae, T he discharge never entirely ceased, but did not increase during his last attack. A young lady living at Gravesend, a friend of a very intel¬ ligent practitioner, had been confined to her bed for some weeks, constantly lying on the left side. The case was obviously one of empyema supervening on consumption. The constitutional symptoms were absent, but had been exceedingly well dis¬ played, as appeared from inquiry, oefore the occurrence of effusion. It is worthy of note here, that when empyema takes place in phthisis, the constitutional symptoms become equivocal, —they are either very slightly marked, or nearly absent. Leeches were recommended to be applied to the side, followed by blisters, with a view to lessen the vascular action of the serous membrane and promote absorption. It is unnecessary to enter into the case more minutely than to state that the mecha¬ nical treatment was adopted to obliterate phthisical excavations, and produce a general pulmonary expansion. After the lapse of about two months the matter pointed; an opening was made by a surgeon, which was followed by a purulent discharge; this continued for some weeks. Meanwhile, she persevered, as directed, in the practice of inhaling, her symptoms being at the same time watched by her usual medical attendant. A few months afterwards, being perfectly restored, she came to town, and continued without any pectoral disease, in a very satisfac¬ tory state of general health. The respiratory tube was originally prohibited in affections of the heart generally, but further experience has proved that it may be resorted to here also with advantage, when the lungs are not congested, but simply voluminous in consequence of mucous bronchial intumescence or tracheal spasm. It has been found useful in heart affections symptomatic of chlorosis, and in most of the nervous complaints of females attended with cardiac dilatation. Its beneficial effects on the sanguification are exemplified by altering the complexion from a pale to a healthy sanguineous tint, and on venous congestion by removing sublividity of the lips and turgescence of the veins of the neck.