Observations, with cases illustrative of a new, simple, and expeditious mode of curing rheumatism and sprains, without in the least debilitating the system / by William Balfour. M.D.

  • Balfour, William, 1780-
Date:
1816
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations, with cases illustrative of a new, simple, and expeditious mode of curing rheumatism and sprains, without in the least debilitating the system / by William Balfour. M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by University of Bristol Library. The original may be consulted at University of Bristol Library.

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    that general blood-letting is always improper in Rheumatism. Often it is advisable, sometimes ne- cessary; but the detraction of a Scotch pint of blood, in the course of twenty-four hours, where there is no affection of the lungs or other internal organ, I call breaking down a constitution as with axes and with hammers. Nam nt sanguis semel missus nunquam in venas, sic neque vires cum illo amissae in variis morbis unguam refici possunt. (Conspect. Medicin. Auctore, Dr. Gregory.) When I am called to a patient labouring under Acute Rheumatism, and find him oppressed with a load of bed-clothes, and coverexl with sweat, the consequence of mere oppression; whatever the state of the pulse, whatever the severity of his pains may be, I instantly direct the surface to be rubbed with flour till dry, and then with flannel or the flesh- brush. During this process the cold air is freel v admitted to the whole body, and I never found any detriment arise from the practice: On the contrary, the patient uniformly feels refreshed and relieved. I have carried the application of cold in Rheuma- tism farther than evea the admission of cold air to the tody. To a wrist in a state of inflammation so high that the patient could not suffer it to be touched, I have applied cold water with a sponge with great deliberation. By the conversion of the water into vapour, so great a quantity of heat was