On the arrest of typhus fever by quinine / by Robert Dundas.

  • Dundas, Robert, active 19th century.
Date:
[1851]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the arrest of typhus fever by quinine / by Robert Dundas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

    12/16 (page 10)
    Liverpool Fever Hospital, Nov. 8, 1851. Dear Sir,—In reply to your note of yesterday, I beg to state that my oi)inion of the quinine treatment is imchanged. In one important practical point, I entirely differ from Dr. Goolden and yourself. I do not consider that the quinine treatment requires, for its successful employment, any special supervision. For all prac- tical purposes, one visit daily to the patient has been found sufficient in the hospital, where the ten grain doses have been given every two hours, for many days, without any inconvenience. I quite agree with Dr. Goolden (judging from the cases under Dr. Gee, and in my OAvn charge), that the treatment apj)ears to be alto- gether free from danger. The quinine has been used here in fevers, complicated with chest affections, etc. I enclose for your satisfaction the notes of two cases (ex multis aliis), and should you desire any more, you can have them. To Dr. Dundas. I remain, etc., W. Eddowes. Case i. Typhus in an Epileptic—Erysipelas supervening —Convalescence on the Fifth Day of Treatment. Richard Lewis, aged 30, a painter, has had colic and wrist-drop; has had epilepsy for seven years, having two fits a month. The epilepsy occurred a month after the attack of colic. His general health is good. Present Attack. Has been ill more or less for three weeks, but con- fined to bed for five days only: he had been under treatment, and had got worse. October 18. Present State. He complains of deafness and frontal cephalalgia; is propped up in bed, which, he says, eases the great headache. He passes restless nights ; the countenance is flushed ; the respiration hurried, 32; the pulse 106, jerking and weak; skin hot and dry; tongue dry, and brown in the centre, moist at the edges : there is tenderness upon firm pressure over the hepatic region. He was directed to have ten grains of the disulphate of quinine every two hours ; four ounces of brandy daily; milk diet, beef-tea, and arrowroot. October 19. He sleeps better; the head is easier than yesterday ; is not propped up as before ; the breathing is easier; the tongue as before; a dusky erysipelatous flush is appearing on the cheeks and forehead. He was ordered to continue the remedies, and apply flour to the erysipelas. October 20. The headache is less, but he spent the night restlessly; the face is swollen; the breathing natural; pulse 96; tongue as be- fore. He says that he feels quite well, except the soreness of the head and face. To continue the quinine, etc. October 21. The deafness is nearly gone; the tongue moist; he was restless at night; headache quite gone; pulse 80, natural; skin cool, covered with a perspiration; the erysipelas is better. Ihe medi- cines were continued. i ^ . i < October 23. He was convalescent; and was directed to take ten grains of quinine three times a day. Case ii. Petechial Typhus—Pleuritis and Bronchitis-- CONVALESCENCE ON THE FiFIH DaY OF TREATMENT. Octo()er 26. Mary Malonoy, aged 15, of good general health, has been ill five days; the skin is hot and dry, with pctcchiic; she has gi-eat thirst, restless nights ; slight headache ; tongue coated with a white fur; loss