Monthly Journal of Medical Science (Volume 10) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1850 Excerpt: ... part jFtrst. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. Article I.--On the Treatment of Phthisis Pulmonalis. By John Hughes Bennett, M.D., F.K.S.E., Professor of the Institutes of Medicine and of Clinical Medicine in the University of Edinburgh.--Concluded from p. 239.) In my former communication I endeavoured to show, that phthisis pulmonalis originated in a derangement of the digestive organs, which materially interfered with a healthy formation of blood, and the nutrition of the body; that, under such circumstances, exudations of a tubercular character were very liable to be poured into the lungs, which presented a great tendency to disintegrate and produce ulcerations in those organs, and that a rational treatment must be directed, first to an improvement of the nutritive functions, whereby the healthy constitution of the blood may be restored, and secondly, to the adoption of such means as will prevent fresh local exudations, and arrest the ulcerative disposition of such as are already formed. I further pointed out, that the first indication was to be fulfilled by overcoming the dyspepsia, improving the diet, and especially by giving animal oil, --a material essential for the support of the tissues, but which in phthisical cases, owing to the derangement of the alimentary canal, was not assimilated in sufficient quantity. The good effects of cod-liver oil in this disease are now generally admitted by the profession. It would, however, be very erroneous to imagine that this remedy is of itself sufficient to cure cases of phthisis, or that other means and precautions should be neglected. On the contrary, great management and skill are required during the progress of the disease to meet numerous occasional symptoms, to cause avoidance of those circumstances which are likely..