Lectures on the principles and practice of physics : delivered by D. Francis Condie.
- Watson, Thomas, Sir, 1792-1882.
- Date:
- 1858
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Lectures on the principles and practice of physics : delivered by D. Francis Condie. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the Gerstein Science Information Centre at the University of Toronto, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Gerstein Science Information Centre, University of Toronto.
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![most violent form, and died on the fourth day. Recently, however, Dr. Stievenart, of Valenciennes, has published the results of a very extensive trial of the belladonna, as a prophylactic during the prevalence of epidemic scarlatina: which results, if they are correctly stated, and all sources of error have been carefully guarded against in the performance of the experiments upon which they are founded, go very far to prove that the belladonna does actually possess the property of shielding the constitution from an attack of scarlet fever. An epidemic of the disease ravaged, during the win- ter of 1840-1, several villages in the neighborhood of Valenciennes, when Dr. Stie- venart was induced to try the prophylactic properties of belladonna. The fatality of the epidemic was such that 30 had already died out of 96 attacked; consequently any means of prevention was a subject of vast importance. In a small village, out of 250 individuals, 200 took the belladonna, and were all preserved from the attack of scarlet fever. Of the fifty others, 14 were seized with the fever, and four of them died. At the village of Curgies, Dr. Stievenart administered the belladonna to the children at the public school, and allowed them to continue at their lessons, and have free com- munication with the other children of the village. All to whom the belladonna was administered escaped the scarlet fever, while a few who refused to take it were seized with the disease. The belladonna was administered in two forms—in solution, or as a powder. Two grains of the recent alcoholic extract of belladonna were dissolved in an ounce of any aromatic infusion, and of this two drops were given to a child of one year old, daily, for nine or ten days: an additional drop being given for every additional year of age. The largest daily dose was, however, limited to twelve drops. When the belladonna was used in the form of powder, half a grain of the powdered root was mixed with a small quantity of sugar, and divided into ten doses. One of these was given—morn- ing and evening—to children of from one to two years old; two powders, at the same periods, to those from three to five; three powders to those from six to nine; four to those from ten to fifteen, and five to adults. These small doses never produced the toxicological effects of belladonna; in fact, they scarcely exhibited any marked action. In five or six cases Dr. Stievenart observed a rash similar to that of measles; and, in a few other cases, headache, with dilatation of the pupils, dryness of the fauces, and a slight soreness of the throat, but which had no resemblance to that of scarlatina an- ginosa. In all the other cases no sensible or apparent effect resulted from the admi- nistration of the remedy. Dr. Stievenart, generally, continued the use of the bella- donna for from nine to ten days; in some cases, it was given for fifteen days. He thinks this period sufficiently long to put the system under the influence of the pre- servative powers of the remedy: but recommends to resume its use if the epidemic returns or breaks out again with renewed violence. In an epidemic of scarlatina which occurred in South Carolina, Dr. Irwin made a very extensive trial of the pro- phylactic properties of belladonna. Of two hundred and fifty children who were placed under the influence of the drug, less than half a dozen had the disease, and that very mildly. In the families, the members of which were not placed under the influence of the belladonna, the disease occurred with scarcely an exception. Dr. McKee, in the extension of the same epidemic, made use of the belladonna, and de- rived from it the same protective influence. Dr. Kufus Hammond, of Indiana, also bears testimony in favour of the prophylactic powers of belladonna, based upon ample opportunities for observation.—C.] LECTURE LXXXIX. The Plague. Erysipelas. Erythema nodosum. Urticaria. Prurigo. Scabies. OF that group of contagious exanthemata of which I undertook to give you some general account, two only remain to be noticed; viz. the plague and erysipelas. Concerning one of these, the plague — as I have never seen, and hope never to see it; and as, with Cullen, I think it unfit for a person who has never seen the disease](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b20996172_1176.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
