Some observations upon diseases : chiefly as they occur in Sicily / by William Irvine.

  • Irvine, William, 1776-1811.
Date:
1810
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Some observations upon diseases : chiefly as they occur in Sicily / by William Irvine. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    it should not be used too strong. The skin of a part affected with erysipelas is unusually tender, and will not bear the same applications which are beneficial in phlegmon. All this, however, must be regulated by the particular case. The solution must be applied by means of linen rags moistened with it. The effect of this treatment has been an immediate abatement of the pain and heat of the part, and very often in the course of one day a considerable reduction of the inflammation. I have made it a rule in most cases to accompany this plan with the exhibition of bark in substance, and I can safely affirm, that I have never seen gangrene follow this disorder, though I have treated in a similar way a very considerable num- ber of patients. The advantages which I conceive to be derived from this method are a much more rapid cure, much less pain, and considerably less risk of suppuration, always an inconvenient termi- nation of this complaint. The necessary precau- tions need hardly be repeated. If the patient be very old and feeble, and the erysipelas extensive, the cold might prove too debilitating for his con- stitution, if applied over all the diseased surface at once. In like manner the application would be improper after any considerable tendency to gan- grene had appeared, and perhaps might be doubt- ful if the erysipelas were seated on the face. In determining the cases in which refrigerants might be improper, or at least imprudent, much must