New remedies : with formulae for their preparation and administration / By Robley Dunglison.

  • Dunglison, Robley, 1798-1869.
Date:
1856
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: New remedies : with formulae for their preparation and administration / By Robley Dunglison. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    purgative, and this, as 'well as other forms of newralgia* would seeui to have been removed by it,—doubtless by the revulsion it exeites upon the intestinal nerves: but it need scarcely be said, that it possesses DO specific virtue, as has been imagined by some. The same remark applies to its employment as a purgative in acute rheumatism by Dr. Geo. L. Upshur, of Norfolk, Virginia,- who is disposed to believe that the efficacy of Croton oil does not depend entirely upon its cathartic properties. It possesses—he thinks—a power over the disease be- yond these, and apparently not dependent upon them; for other ca- thartics, which act as powerfully and as promptly, producing similar watery stools, do not bring a like amount of relief to the patient. I do not say, he adds, that it is a specific, for I am not a believer in the doctrine of specifics in medicine: that doctrine has put more stumb- ling-blocks in the way of medical progress than all the open quackery of the past half century. I merely desire to state, that after a fair trial, in a number of cases accurately observed, where there was scarcely a possibility of falling into error, I believe that the croton oil is the best single remedy in the treatment of acute rheumatism; and I am thoroughly convinced, that it is as justly entitled to the term specific in this disease, as is quinine in miasmatic fever. Yet the cases re- ported by Dr. Upshur, in which other favourite anti-arthritic remedies —as colchicum and sulphate of quinia—were also prescribed, are far from impressing the author as strongly as they do him. Mr. Hancock3 is of opinion, that the cause most productive of sciatica is irritation of the nerves within the pelvis, either from loaded colon or caecum, or from tumours formed within the cavity, and acting mechanically upon the nerve. A loaded colon, he thinks, is the most common cause; and this may be a reason, why sciatica is most commonly seated in the left thigh. [?] The plan of treatment, he advises, is to thoroughly purge the patient with small doses of croton oil, combined with blue pill, hyoscyamus and compound extract of eoloeynth; and, at the same time, to give three grain doses of sulphate of quinia, three times daily. Local applications he speaks of as injurious rather than beneficial. The cases, reported by Mr. Hancock, yielded to the treatment; but the sulphate of quinia, had probably, at least, as much agency in the cure as the croton oil. In the only case of genuine tie in which Dr. Christison tried it, no benefit whatever was derived. In delirium tremens it has been ad- vised by Dr. Prankerd4 as an efficacious remedy, in which disease it acts, he conceives, as a direct sedative to the nervous system. The testimony is, however, inadequate to establish the position: and but little reliance ought therefore to be reposed in it. Dr. Stark5 recommends, that a drop of croton oil with eoloeynth should be given every hour in cholera, until a full evacuation of bilious matter is procured. Diluted sulphuric acid, is sometimes employed simultaneously to check the vomiting. 1 J. Cochrane, Lond. and Edinb. Monthly Journ. of Med. Science. July. 1841: J. A. Easton. London Lancet. Jan. 29, 1811: and Nevrbigging. Edinb. Med. and Surg. Journ. Jan. 1841, and Amer. Journ. of the Med. Sciences, Jan. 1841, p. 209. 2 Medical Examiner. Oct. 1850, p. 580. 3 Lancet. March 4 and 11, 1854 * Prov. Med. and Surg. Journ. April 29, 1816. 6 Lancet, Sep. 1854