Observations and experiments on the efficacy and modus operandi of cupping-glasses, in preventing and arresting the effects of poisoned wounds / by Caspar Wistar Pennock.

  • Pennock, C. W. (Caspar Wistar), 1799-1867.
Date:
1828
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations and experiments on the efficacy and modus operandi of cupping-glasses, in preventing and arresting the effects of poisoned wounds / by Caspar Wistar Pennock. 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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    torn appeared. The animal, immediately upon being released, ate, was lively, and, with the exception of the wound, was apparently as well and vigorous as before the experiment. He lived for ten days, and then became the subject of another experiment. Experiment 9th.—This was the introducing of one grain of strych- nine through a valvular opening in the skin of the left thigh of a rab- bit, and the depositing of it by means of a tube at the distance of one inch and a quarter from the orifice. The cupping-glass was not ap- plied until constitutional symptoms, such as the difficulty of respira- tion, spasmodic movements of the lower jaw, and tetanic twitchings were manifested. These took place in nine minutes from the inser- tion of the poison. All the symptoms yielded instantly to the appli- cation of the cup over the poison. The glass remained on for one hour and a quarter: the poison was then extracted through an incision in the skin; the wound was dressed, and the animal recovered. Experiment 10th.—Six drops of the medicinal hydrocyanic acid, prepared by Farr and Kunzi of this city, were injected by means of a syringe into the cellular tissue of the thigh of a rabbit. In five minutes convulsive movements were manifested, accompanied by dif- ficulty of respiration, prostration of strength, and a comatose state. In ten minutes death ensued. Experiment Wth.—The same quantity of hydrocyanic acid was inserted as in the preceding experiment. The cupping-glass was immediately applied on the sound skin over the poison, leaving the orifice without the bounds of the cup. No ill effects during one hour *and twenty minutes. The wound was then dilated and carefully washed. The animal being released, appeared free from pain and in perfect health. In a few days the wound healed. Experiment 12th.—A small incision was made in the thigh of an adult rabbit, and one grain of strychnine deposited by means of attube between the muscles and skin an inch and an half from the wound, and nearer the heart. The orifice was closed as usual, and the cupping- glass applied over it, leaving the poison nearly half an inch without the boundary of the glass. The glass was taken off at intervals dur- ing one hour, upon which, tetanic symptoms invariably appeared, which were always arrested by the re-application of the cup. Finally, when the animal was perfectly at rest, and free from all morbid symp- toms, I made an incision through the skin, between the edge of the glass and the spot where the poison was deposited: the glass still re- maining on the part. The rabbit was then affected precisely as if no cupping-glass had been applied, and death took place twenty-two minutes after the incision.