Digitalis : its mode of action, and its use : an enquiry illustrating the effect of remedial agents over diseased conditions of the heart : the Hastings prize essay of the British Medical Association for 1870 / by J. Milner Fothergill.

  • Fothergill, John Milner, 1841-1888.
Date:
1871
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Digitalis : its mode of action, and its use : an enquiry illustrating the effect of remedial agents over diseased conditions of the heart : the Hastings prize essay of the British Medical Association for 1870 / by J. Milner Fothergill. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    92/95 (page 87)
    talis cannot be without some effect. The results thus attained appear too early to be the mere effect of the iron. While the attempt to produce better nutrition of the heart from its use, as we saw in a preceding section, does actually succeed, the addition of iron, from its hm- matic properties, aids us most materially. From the cheer- ing results which I have witnessed in numerous cases of chronic cardiac disease, and the great alteration effected in the patient’s condition, both as regards comfort, or, rather, relief from discomfort, ability to take more exercise, and even to undergo more exertion in those cases where the patient’s circumstances necessitated labour, I can urge most honestly and conscientiously its use, and especially in this combination. Another application of it is very important, and that is its absorption through the skin. In many instances, it is desirable to bring out the action of the digitalis when the risk of disordering the stomach may act as a check, or even when there is already great gastric disturbance. Here it may be used by either poultices of the leaves, or flannels soaked in the infusion, or a mixture of the tincture and water applied to the abdomen and thighs. Cases are given by Christison of such use of it. Trousseau relates a very interesting case where very decided results were thus obtained (vol. i, chap. xxxv). Some cases were recently detailed in the journals of such use of it. This manner of administering digitalis should never be lost sight of, as it may now and then enable us to do what we cannot accom- plish by the mouth. Hypodermic injection is another mode of administering it which should not be overlooked. Certainly, in the experiments on frogs, this was chiefly resorted to on account of its convenience. Bouillaud pursued an endermic