NOTE.
Since these pages were put to press, I have received from Professor Maunoir the following details of the case mentioned atpage 49. As far as I know, it is the only case of the kind on record. I make no apology, therefore, for inserting it in this place.
“C’est le 18 Mars 1821, que j’ai été consulté pour la première fois pour le jeune B—— de Soleure, enfant de huit ans, atteint, depuis moins d’un an, d’unwhite swellingau genou droit; pour lequel on avoit employé inutilement vésicatoires, sangsues, topiques résolutifs de toute espèce, remèdes internes, &c. Il avoit alors une augmentation considérable dans le volume du genou, que le médecin supposoit avoir lieu dans les os plutôt que dans les parties molles, et en même tems une diminution sensible dans le volume de la jambe. L’enfant ne pouvoit faire un pas sans douleur avec des béquilles; car il y avoit flexion de la jambe sur la cuisse, je ne sais pas à quel angle, mais impossibilité d’extension.
“Je l’ai traité par correspondance sans le voir; on lui a fait des frictions avec l’onguent d’iode, gros comme une noisette, matin et soir. Il a pris la teinture d’iode à la dose d’ 1/12 de grain au plus. Son estomac n’en a été nullement affecté, et huit mois après le père n’a pas pu résister au plaisir de me montrer son enfant. Il me l’a amené à Genève, et j’ai vu cet enfant, marchant et courant lestement, le genou droit de la même grosseur que le gauche, et aussi serviable que celui-là.”
THE END.
LONDON:—PRINTED BY J. MOYES, GREVILLE STREET.
[1]The total inefficacy of this medicine in the hands of British Practitioners, while its virtues are so palpable and evident at Geneva, that not only Physicians, but also the inhabitants in general, are convinced of their reality, had always surprised me. I was at a loss to account for testimony so contradictory. It seemed as if medicine were a science so uncertain and futile, that its plainest facts depend more on the authority of name than on the substantial evidence of observation and experiment. I lately obtained an explanation of this difficulty from a quarter in which I can place implicit reliance. It seems that the chemists are much in the habit of substituting charcoal for burnt sponge, of which an undeniable proof is the fact, that burnt sponge is sold at an inferior rate to the same article before it has undergone the process of combustion.—I may also be allowed to state in this place, that I have sent prescriptions for the hydriodate of potass to several chemists in London—that my prescriptions were said to have been made up; but that a few days afterwards, when I called at their shops, in order to examine the medicine, I discovered that they were not even aware of the existence of such a drug. If such frauds continue to be committed with impunity, the sick had better submit patiently to their pains, than have recourse to physicians, whose science is rendered unavailing for the profit of tradesmen.[2]I have seen in one case a most obstinate suppression of urine. I merely mention the fact, as I have no reason to believe it to be a common effect of the use of iodine.[3]Dr. Coindet, however, though he must be acquainted with the sad accidents which have occurred in his native city, has not yet taken any public notice of them. This silence on facts so important seems in some degree to invalidate his testimony.[4]The iodine which is sold in the shops is of very different degrees of purity, which will probably afford an explanation of some of the above anomalies. But still after all possible care has been taken, there will be found a few instances in which it does not appear to possess any power over the absorbent system.[5]Dr. Coindet gives an instructive example of this kind.Bibliothèque Universelle, Février, 1821, p. 148.[6]Nuovo metodo di amministratori l’unguento mercuriale ne mali fisici del Dottore Vitantonio Scattigna. Napoli, 1818.[7]I have seen, in the hospitals of Naples, the most decided and unquestionable effects produced by mercury used in this manner, I have since used it frequentlyin my own practice in the same way; and Ibelieve that the mercurial ointment, thus used, is exempt from much of the inconvenience occasioned by rubbing. I have seen several persons use it in this manner with ease, who could not rub in mercury without much suffering. Scattigna asserts that it is also much more efficacious than when rubbed in by the common method. His way of using it is, to extend a scruple of mercurial ointment over the skin of the axilla before the patient goes to sleep. In the morning, the whole of it will be found to be absorbed, and in this way he calculates that as strong an effect is produced as by a drachm of the ointment. I have used, in a case of hydrothorax, an ointment of squills in the same way, which has caused an increased flow of urine, which I had vainly endeavoured to effect by means of the same medicine given by the mouth. These statements are at variance with the experience of Mr. Pearson, which must be allowed to be of much weight in this matter. Will the difference of climate account for the discrepancy?[8]On perusing most of our practical, and more especially our systematic authors, this term will be found of such latitude and various meaning, that, were they indiscriminately followed, scrophula might be considered an universal disease. In this place, we confine our attention to those diseases which are familiar to all practitioners, scrophulous tumors of the conglobate glands.[9]My friend Mr. Maunoir, of Geneva, informed me that a little boy from one of the interior towns of Switzerland, was brought to him on account of a swelling of the knee-joint. He had already been under the care of several eminent surgeons, who had all declared the tumor to be a white swelling, and had recommended the amputation of the limb. Such, also, was the opinion of Mr. Maunoir; but finding the friends and the boy himself extremely averse to the operation, he tried the effect of iodine. In the course of a few weeks the tumor, pain, and stiffness of the joint were dissipated, and the boy was running about as formerly.[10]So great have been the ravages committed by the imprudent use of iodine in the Pays de Vaud, that the government of that canton has issued an injunction against its sale, excepting under the signature and responsibility of a physician.
[1]The total inefficacy of this medicine in the hands of British Practitioners, while its virtues are so palpable and evident at Geneva, that not only Physicians, but also the inhabitants in general, are convinced of their reality, had always surprised me. I was at a loss to account for testimony so contradictory. It seemed as if medicine were a science so uncertain and futile, that its plainest facts depend more on the authority of name than on the substantial evidence of observation and experiment. I lately obtained an explanation of this difficulty from a quarter in which I can place implicit reliance. It seems that the chemists are much in the habit of substituting charcoal for burnt sponge, of which an undeniable proof is the fact, that burnt sponge is sold at an inferior rate to the same article before it has undergone the process of combustion.—I may also be allowed to state in this place, that I have sent prescriptions for the hydriodate of potass to several chemists in London—that my prescriptions were said to have been made up; but that a few days afterwards, when I called at their shops, in order to examine the medicine, I discovered that they were not even aware of the existence of such a drug. If such frauds continue to be committed with impunity, the sick had better submit patiently to their pains, than have recourse to physicians, whose science is rendered unavailing for the profit of tradesmen.
[1]The total inefficacy of this medicine in the hands of British Practitioners, while its virtues are so palpable and evident at Geneva, that not only Physicians, but also the inhabitants in general, are convinced of their reality, had always surprised me. I was at a loss to account for testimony so contradictory. It seemed as if medicine were a science so uncertain and futile, that its plainest facts depend more on the authority of name than on the substantial evidence of observation and experiment. I lately obtained an explanation of this difficulty from a quarter in which I can place implicit reliance. It seems that the chemists are much in the habit of substituting charcoal for burnt sponge, of which an undeniable proof is the fact, that burnt sponge is sold at an inferior rate to the same article before it has undergone the process of combustion.—I may also be allowed to state in this place, that I have sent prescriptions for the hydriodate of potass to several chemists in London—that my prescriptions were said to have been made up; but that a few days afterwards, when I called at their shops, in order to examine the medicine, I discovered that they were not even aware of the existence of such a drug. If such frauds continue to be committed with impunity, the sick had better submit patiently to their pains, than have recourse to physicians, whose science is rendered unavailing for the profit of tradesmen.
[2]I have seen in one case a most obstinate suppression of urine. I merely mention the fact, as I have no reason to believe it to be a common effect of the use of iodine.
[2]I have seen in one case a most obstinate suppression of urine. I merely mention the fact, as I have no reason to believe it to be a common effect of the use of iodine.
[3]Dr. Coindet, however, though he must be acquainted with the sad accidents which have occurred in his native city, has not yet taken any public notice of them. This silence on facts so important seems in some degree to invalidate his testimony.
[3]Dr. Coindet, however, though he must be acquainted with the sad accidents which have occurred in his native city, has not yet taken any public notice of them. This silence on facts so important seems in some degree to invalidate his testimony.
[4]The iodine which is sold in the shops is of very different degrees of purity, which will probably afford an explanation of some of the above anomalies. But still after all possible care has been taken, there will be found a few instances in which it does not appear to possess any power over the absorbent system.
[4]The iodine which is sold in the shops is of very different degrees of purity, which will probably afford an explanation of some of the above anomalies. But still after all possible care has been taken, there will be found a few instances in which it does not appear to possess any power over the absorbent system.
[5]Dr. Coindet gives an instructive example of this kind.Bibliothèque Universelle, Février, 1821, p. 148.
[5]Dr. Coindet gives an instructive example of this kind.Bibliothèque Universelle, Février, 1821, p. 148.
[6]Nuovo metodo di amministratori l’unguento mercuriale ne mali fisici del Dottore Vitantonio Scattigna. Napoli, 1818.
[6]Nuovo metodo di amministratori l’unguento mercuriale ne mali fisici del Dottore Vitantonio Scattigna. Napoli, 1818.
[7]I have seen, in the hospitals of Naples, the most decided and unquestionable effects produced by mercury used in this manner, I have since used it frequentlyin my own practice in the same way; and Ibelieve that the mercurial ointment, thus used, is exempt from much of the inconvenience occasioned by rubbing. I have seen several persons use it in this manner with ease, who could not rub in mercury without much suffering. Scattigna asserts that it is also much more efficacious than when rubbed in by the common method. His way of using it is, to extend a scruple of mercurial ointment over the skin of the axilla before the patient goes to sleep. In the morning, the whole of it will be found to be absorbed, and in this way he calculates that as strong an effect is produced as by a drachm of the ointment. I have used, in a case of hydrothorax, an ointment of squills in the same way, which has caused an increased flow of urine, which I had vainly endeavoured to effect by means of the same medicine given by the mouth. These statements are at variance with the experience of Mr. Pearson, which must be allowed to be of much weight in this matter. Will the difference of climate account for the discrepancy?
[7]I have seen, in the hospitals of Naples, the most decided and unquestionable effects produced by mercury used in this manner, I have since used it frequentlyin my own practice in the same way; and Ibelieve that the mercurial ointment, thus used, is exempt from much of the inconvenience occasioned by rubbing. I have seen several persons use it in this manner with ease, who could not rub in mercury without much suffering. Scattigna asserts that it is also much more efficacious than when rubbed in by the common method. His way of using it is, to extend a scruple of mercurial ointment over the skin of the axilla before the patient goes to sleep. In the morning, the whole of it will be found to be absorbed, and in this way he calculates that as strong an effect is produced as by a drachm of the ointment. I have used, in a case of hydrothorax, an ointment of squills in the same way, which has caused an increased flow of urine, which I had vainly endeavoured to effect by means of the same medicine given by the mouth. These statements are at variance with the experience of Mr. Pearson, which must be allowed to be of much weight in this matter. Will the difference of climate account for the discrepancy?
[8]On perusing most of our practical, and more especially our systematic authors, this term will be found of such latitude and various meaning, that, were they indiscriminately followed, scrophula might be considered an universal disease. In this place, we confine our attention to those diseases which are familiar to all practitioners, scrophulous tumors of the conglobate glands.
[8]On perusing most of our practical, and more especially our systematic authors, this term will be found of such latitude and various meaning, that, were they indiscriminately followed, scrophula might be considered an universal disease. In this place, we confine our attention to those diseases which are familiar to all practitioners, scrophulous tumors of the conglobate glands.
[9]My friend Mr. Maunoir, of Geneva, informed me that a little boy from one of the interior towns of Switzerland, was brought to him on account of a swelling of the knee-joint. He had already been under the care of several eminent surgeons, who had all declared the tumor to be a white swelling, and had recommended the amputation of the limb. Such, also, was the opinion of Mr. Maunoir; but finding the friends and the boy himself extremely averse to the operation, he tried the effect of iodine. In the course of a few weeks the tumor, pain, and stiffness of the joint were dissipated, and the boy was running about as formerly.
[9]My friend Mr. Maunoir, of Geneva, informed me that a little boy from one of the interior towns of Switzerland, was brought to him on account of a swelling of the knee-joint. He had already been under the care of several eminent surgeons, who had all declared the tumor to be a white swelling, and had recommended the amputation of the limb. Such, also, was the opinion of Mr. Maunoir; but finding the friends and the boy himself extremely averse to the operation, he tried the effect of iodine. In the course of a few weeks the tumor, pain, and stiffness of the joint were dissipated, and the boy was running about as formerly.
[10]So great have been the ravages committed by the imprudent use of iodine in the Pays de Vaud, that the government of that canton has issued an injunction against its sale, excepting under the signature and responsibility of a physician.
[10]So great have been the ravages committed by the imprudent use of iodine in the Pays de Vaud, that the government of that canton has issued an injunction against its sale, excepting under the signature and responsibility of a physician.