Specific diagnosis and specific medication / by John William Fyfe ; together with abstracts from the writings of John M. Scudder and other leading authors.

  • Fyfe, John William, 1839-
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specific diagnosis and specific medication / by John William Fyfe ; together with abstracts from the writings of John M. Scudder and other leading authors. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    to be employed in accordance with the special indications pre- sented in each case. Zymotic Diseases. All contagious diseases may be classed as zymotic, but all zymotic diseases are not contagious. Erysipelas, diphtheria and cerebro-spinal meningitis may be epidemic, endemic or conta- gious, and they should be studied in each of these classes. When they prove contagious it may be from either one of two condi- tions—the intensity of the diseased action, or the loss of life and breaking down of the tissue. In studying erysipelas we find that it sometimes develops re- markable virulence in this direction, so much so that it will attack almost every surgical case in a hospital, and will be con- tracted by nurses and others. This, of course, will be noticed especially in certain years (epidemic influence) and in certain localities (endemic influence), but we cannot neglect to notice the contagious element. In the one case we notice the intensity of disease, both as to its local and general symptoms. The part is intensely hot, burn- ing, painful, and is dry and tense, and its color, whether bright or dark, is vivid. The pulse is frequent, tense, and unyielding, the temperature has a high range, and the nervous system shows great excitation. Whenever such symptoms show themselves, we may fear contagion, and will employ means to prevent the infec- tion of others. In the second case we have the evidences of sepsis and de- liquescence of tissue. Locally the part is full, and wants elas- ticity, the epidermis yields, and presently the connective tissue. The discharge becomes offensive, the pulse oppressed and feeble, and the tissues at large softened. In the first class of cases remedies should have reference to the intensity of the diseased action, and consist principally of veratrum, rhus, apis, belladonna and tincture of the muriate of iron. In the second, echinacea and other proper antiseptics, with restoratives, will be needed. In puerperal fever the same two elements of contagion are quite as marked as in erysipelas. But there is added a third, an infectious material thrown off from the reproductive organs. So marked and virulent is this, that it is readily communicated by