The elements of a new materia medica and therapeutics : based upon an entirely new collection of drug-provings and clinical experience / by E.E. Marcy, J.C. Peters & Otto Füllgraff.

  • Marcy, E. E. (Erastus Edgerton), 1815-1900.
Date:
[1859-1861]
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The elements of a new materia medica and therapeutics : based upon an entirely new collection of drug-provings and clinical experience / by E.E. Marcy, J.C. Peters & Otto Füllgraff. 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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    daily when in full convalescence. Christison's observations correspond with Laennec's, except as to the effects of large closes during con- valescence, of which effects he has no experience. He has seen from six to twenty grains, given daily in several doses of one or two mins, check bad cases of pneumonia or bronchitis, without causing vomiting or purging after the first day, and also without increasing the perspiration. At the same time he states that he has twice seen the first two or three doses excite so violent a purging and pain in the stomach and bowels, that he was deterred from persevering with the remedy. But in continued fever he has repeatedly found that the doses mentioned above did not cause any symptoms of irritation in the stomach or intestines. The large quantities mentioned have even been given in a single dose, without greater physiological effects. Christie has given a scruple in one dose, in cholera, with the effect merely of exciting some vomiting and several watery stools. But he states that in one case symptoms were induced like those of a case of violent cholera. (9.) (See Stool.) The leading features, indeed, in every case of poisoning with pre- parations of antimony are vomiting, purging, spasms; symptoms in a word, analogous to those of cholera. (52.) The same large doses have been given by some in delirium tremens, without any poisonous effect being produced. A correspon- dent of the Lancet has even mentioned that on one occasion after gradually increasing the dose, he at last wound up the treatment, successfully as regarded the disease, and without any injury to the patient, by giving four doses of twenty grains each, in the course of twenty minutes. (9.) Prof. Forget of Strasburg, gave Tartar-emetic to a robust man laboring under acute articular rheumatism, first in eight grain doses, then in doses of 10. 15. 20. 30. 40. 60. and lastly 72 grains, without any disorder of the intestinal canal or general disturbance. In three days he took ten drachms ! He was relieved for a time, but a relapse occurred, and he was finally cured by Colchicum. (44.) These facts are peculiarly perplexing when viewed in connection with its great activity as a poison in comparatively minute doses, in some well authenticated cases. Christison after a recapitulation of the facts, draws the conclusion that the substance is not so active a poison as was till lately supposed, though uncertain in its action ; but it is probable that in connection with this there is an idiosyncratic tolerance of the mineral in many constitutions, and more especially in certain diseases, upon which this apparent immunity greatly de- pends. Christison thinks that in general we may anticipate violent effects from a large dose. (46.) The following case of poisoning resulted from a smaller dose than any vet mentioned and displays convincingly the very energetic action of the remedy in some cases. Case 6. The patient was a delicate, strumous man, suffering from