en:ahr:dunham-c-chlorine-and-spasmus-glottidis-158-10409
Differences
This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
| Both sides previous revision Previous revision Next revision | Previous revision | ||
|
en:ahr:dunham-c-chlorine-and-spasmus-glottidis-158-10409 [2013/04/22 10:01] legatum |
en:ahr:dunham-c-chlorine-and-spasmus-glottidis-158-10409 [2013/04/22 10:06] (current) legatum |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
| {{anchor:s10}}In 1852, I had an opportunity of witnessing the effect of a strong accidental inhalation of chlorine gas by an adult. {{anchor:s11}}The same phenomena of comparatively, free, but <span grade2>crowing</span> inspiration, and of absolutely obstructed <span grade2>expiration</span> presented themselves, the face became extremely livid, convulsive movements of the extremities began, and the patient became partially comatose. {{anchor:s12}}I administered ammonia by olfaction, the spasm relaxed, and consciousness returned along with normal respiration. | {{anchor:s10}}In 1852, I had an opportunity of witnessing the effect of a strong accidental inhalation of chlorine gas by an adult. {{anchor:s11}}The same phenomena of comparatively, free, but <span grade2>crowing</span> inspiration, and of absolutely obstructed <span grade2>expiration</span> presented themselves, the face became extremely livid, convulsive movements of the extremities began, and the patient became partially comatose. {{anchor:s12}}I administered ammonia by olfaction, the spasm relaxed, and consciousness returned along with normal respiration. | ||
| - | {{anchor:s13}}These experiments show a power in chlorine, to produce the following condition, "Spasm of the glottis, which interferes but little with inspiration, giving to it a crowing sound, but which prevents expiration. {{anchor:s14}}During the continuance of the spasm, the respiratory acts consist of a succession of crowing inspirations, each followed by an ineffectual effort at <span grade2>expiration,</span> the whole serving to inflate the chest to a most painful extent, and attended at last, by turgescence of the face, and more or less complete coma, with or without convulsive movements of the extremities, and during which the spasm relaxes. | + | {{anchor:s13}}These experiments show a power in chlorine, to produce the following condition, "Spasm of the glottis, which interferes but little with inspiration, giving to it a crowing sound, but which prevents expiration. {{anchor:s14}}During the continuance of the spasm, the respiratory acts consist of a succession of crowing inspirations, each followed by an ineffectual effort at <span grade2>expiration,</span> the whole serving to inflate the chest to a most painful extent, and attended at last, by turgescence of the face, and more or less complete coma, with or without convulsive movements of the extremities, and during which the spasm relaxes." |
| - | {{anchor:s15}}In the proving of chlorine, in Vol. II, of the <span grade2>Neues Archiv,</span> a similar effect is indistinctly indicated. {{anchor:s16}}Pareira says "if an attempt be made to inhale undiluted chlorine gas, it produces <span grade2>spasm of the glottis.</span> {{anchor:s17}}Twice I have suffered severely from the accidental inhalation of it; and each time it gave the sensation of constriction of the air tubes, such as might be produced by a spasmodic condition of the muscular fibres of the bronchial tubes" The peculiar nature of the chlorine spasm, viz. that it affects expiration almost exclusively, is not mentioned by Pareira. | + | {{anchor:s15}}In the proving of chlorine, in Vol. II, of the <span grade2>Neues Archiv,</span> a similar effect is indistinctly indicated. {{anchor:s16}}Pareira says "if an attempt be made to inhale undiluted chlorine gas, it produces <span grade2>spasm of the glottis.</span> {{anchor:s17}}Twice I have suffered severely from the accidental inhalation of it; and each time it gave the sensation of constriction of the air tubes, such as might be produced by a spasmodic condition of the muscular fibres of the bronchial tubes." The peculiar nature of the chlorine spasm, viz. that it affects expiration almost exclusively, is not mentioned by Pareira. |
| {{anchor:s18}}Bearing in mind the odium, which has been attempted to be cast upon some of our colleagues, for flooding our literature with "fragmentary provings," which serve no purpose but to "cumber the <span grade2>materia medica,</span>" and to annoy our practitioners with an "<span grade2>embarras de richesses</span>" (as if it were not worth while to publish and to study anything, however "fragmentary", if it furnish us the means of curing, were it but a single case!{{anchor:s19}}) I might have abstained from publishing the above symptoms of chlorine, had not the following case demonstrated their practical value. | {{anchor:s18}}Bearing in mind the odium, which has been attempted to be cast upon some of our colleagues, for flooding our literature with "fragmentary provings," which serve no purpose but to "cumber the <span grade2>materia medica,</span>" and to annoy our practitioners with an "<span grade2>embarras de richesses</span>" (as if it were not worth while to publish and to study anything, however "fragmentary", if it furnish us the means of curing, were it but a single case!{{anchor:s19}}) I might have abstained from publishing the above symptoms of chlorine, had not the following case demonstrated their practical value. | ||
| Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
| {{anchor:s33}}On careful examination of my little patient, I could discover nothing abnormal in the condition of the heart or lungs, and no sign of disease that was not fairly attributed to the frequent recurrence of these spasms, with the venous congestion consequent upon them. {{anchor:s34}}It was evidently a case of Spasmus Glottidis (Asthma thymicum, Asthma millari, Asthma laryngeum infantum, laryngismus stridulus), and had advanced almost to the second or convulsive stage in which the prognosis is decidedly unfavorable. | {{anchor:s33}}On careful examination of my little patient, I could discover nothing abnormal in the condition of the heart or lungs, and no sign of disease that was not fairly attributed to the frequent recurrence of these spasms, with the venous congestion consequent upon them. {{anchor:s34}}It was evidently a case of Spasmus Glottidis (Asthma thymicum, Asthma millari, Asthma laryngeum infantum, laryngismus stridulus), and had advanced almost to the second or convulsive stage in which the prognosis is decidedly unfavorable. | ||
| - | {{anchor:s35}}The remedy which is recommended before all others for this disease, in our hand-books and repertories is <span grade2>Sambucus</span>. {{anchor:s36}}The symptom on which this recommendation is based, is the following "Slumber with half open eyes and mouth; on awaking from it, he could not draw a breath, and was compelled to sit up, whereupon respiration was very hurried with wheezing in the chest, as if he should suffocate; he lashed about with his hands; the head and face were bloated and bluish; he was hot without thirst; weeping at the approach of a paroxysm; all this without cough, and especially at night, from twelve to four o'clock. {{anchor:s37}}On comparing this picture with the case under consideration, we find correspondences in the general characters of the affection. {{anchor:s38}}The spasmodic embarrassment of respiration, the absence of fever, and of cough, the occurrence of the paroxysms <span grade2>suddenly,</span> chiefly at night, and on awaking, show a general appropriateness of Sambucus spasms of the larynx and bronchial tubes. {{anchor:s39}}But we seek in vain for the unequal disturbance of the <span grade2>inspiratory</span> and the <span grade2>expiratory</span> act, which are the <span grade2>individual and</span> therefore the <span grade2>characteristic</span> peculiarity of the case under consideration. {{anchor:s40}}And failing to find this, we should as a matter of course expect, that <span grade2>Sambucus</span> would fail to cure, or in any way, to affect the case. {{anchor:s41}}And this had been the fact. {{anchor:s42}}So too of Lachesis and several other remedies which, as well as <span grade2>Sambucus</span> had already been tried before the case came under my care. {{anchor:s43}}In this very peculiarity, which was characteristic of the case, the similarity of chlorine was most striking. {{anchor:s44}}And it was with the utmost confidence of a happy result, that I determined, after a careful examination of the case, to administer chlorine. {{anchor:s45}}I accordingly prepared a saturated solution of chlorine gas in water at 60° Fahrenheit, and made from this the first centesimal dilution in which the odor of the chlorine could be faintly perceived. | + | {{anchor:s35}}The remedy which is recommended before all others for this disease, in our hand-books and repertories is <span grade2>Sambucus</span>. {{anchor:s36}}The symptom on which this recommendation is based, is the following "Slumber with half open eyes and mouth; on awaking from it, he could not draw a breath, and was compelled to sit up, whereupon respiration was very hurried with wheezing in the chest, as if he should suffocate; he lashed about with his hands; the head and face were bloated and bluish; he was hot without thirst; weeping at the approach of a paroxysm; all this without cough, and especially at night, from twelve to four o'clock." {{anchor:s37}}On comparing this picture with the case under consideration, we find correspondences in the general characters of the affection. {{anchor:s38}}The spasmodic embarrassment of respiration, the absence of fever, and of cough, the occurrence of the paroxysms <span grade2>suddenly,</span> chiefly at night, and on awaking, show a general appropriateness of Sambucus spasms of the larynx and bronchial tubes. {{anchor:s39}}But we seek in vain for the unequal disturbance of the <span grade2>inspiratory</span> and the <span grade2>expiratory</span> act, which are the <span grade2>individual and</span> therefore the <span grade2>characteristic</span> peculiarity of the case under consideration. {{anchor:s40}}And failing to find this, we should as a matter of course expect, that <span grade2>Sambucus</span> would fail to cure, or in any way, to affect the case. {{anchor:s41}}And this had been the fact. {{anchor:s42}}So too of Lachesis and several other remedies which, as well as <span grade2>Sambucus</span> had already been tried before the case came under my care. {{anchor:s43}}In this very peculiarity, which was characteristic of the case, the similarity of chlorine was most striking. {{anchor:s44}}And it was with the utmost confidence of a happy result, that I determined, after a careful examination of the case, to administer chlorine. {{anchor:s45}}I accordingly prepared a saturated solution of chlorine gas in water at 60° Fahrenheit, and made from this the first centesimal dilution in which the odor of the chlorine could be faintly perceived. |
| {{anchor:s46}}Of this, I ordered twenty drops to be dissolved in four tablespoonfuls of water, and a teaspoonful to be given to the child, every three hours. {{anchor:s47}}(A porcelain spoon was used.) I also directed a few drops to be placed in the child's mouth at the beginning of each paroxysm, if this should be possible. | {{anchor:s46}}Of this, I ordered twenty drops to be dissolved in four tablespoonfuls of water, and a teaspoonful to be given to the child, every three hours. {{anchor:s47}}(A porcelain spoon was used.) I also directed a few drops to be placed in the child's mouth at the beginning of each paroxysm, if this should be possible. | ||
en/ahr/dunham-c-chlorine-and-spasmus-glottidis-158-10409.1366624894.txt.gz · Last modified: 2013/04/22 10:01 by legatum
Page Tools
Except where otherwise noted, content on this wiki is licensed under the following license: CC Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
