Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-09-09
THE INFLUENZA,


ticuiariy IN Albany lvshere we believe j,
commenced)' New-Y0rk, Philadelphia,
and Baltimore, has, wijhin a few days
made its appearance ~ Richmond. Al
though a large proportion OF our citizens
are or have Deen affected by the disease,
we are happy in being able to state that
but few deaths have occurred; indeed
we have heard of but one or two occasi-
oned by it.
The following CURE. for the INFLUEN-
x, is extracted from the Medical Tie
aeS, edited by Doct. Charles CaidsveH.
and published by Messrs. Thomas and
J Ipi;tiani Bradford of Philadelphia.
OF THE CURE.
so moderate is the Influenza in many in
stances, as to require hut few days re
J framing from the use OF animal food, to lay
! in bed or keep within doors, taking at the
same time some warm diluent drink, and
to return gradually to the usual manner of
living; whilst in others, again, great at
tentSon is absolutely necessary, and the cure
difficult.
I The treatment OF this disorder must be
either toeai, or general, or both; as viii
appear by attending to its history of synp-
| toms, and its remote and proXimatc causes
but as most local remedies produce general
effects, and general ones often relieve par
! ticu!ar parts, it may be most proper 70 O.
NIT distinctions Of this kind, and premise
one universal rule by which the indications
! OF cure arc To be governed, viz. the season
of the year, the state of the system, and the
symptoms present.
| l. BLOOD-LETTING is proper and
| speedy remedy 20 take down the phcgistic
diathesis, and may be either partial or ge-
neral, according as the symptoms Indicate
The pulse, though it may assst in deter
| mining the quantity of blood which should
he drawn, and the Frequency Of the opera
ton, it can by no means be allowed to di-
rect us altogether in the use of this vaul-
bic remedy. From the great disposition
which this fever discovered 10 dcs ,nerate
into typnus we should be cautious III the use
Of the lancet, and all things else being e.
quail, bleed less freely in the spring than in
the fall of the year.
2. CATHARTICS, or purging medi-
cines, are no doubt necessary, particularly
If the patient he affl cted with violent
headache, a throbbing of the temporal ar
;eries, much cough, constipation of the how
els, accompanied with a tenscpulse but as
medicines shis kind iei,ilita,e tll@ sys.e IA
considerably by single ohcratiou, { given
in full desc, it would seem slf.r flor the
reason suggested under the preceding head
70 administer them so as to keep the body
regular, or gently lax; or to supply their
place either by oysters, or emetics i'll the
manner next TO be mentioned.
8 VOMITS.-NVhene there ap-
pears to be an Inflammation of tie lungs,
which may be known by stitches or "a
cute pains about the chest, these would be
7 improper, tending to give exquisite and
unnecessary pain and would endanger the
rupture OF blood vessel in the lungs, with
all itsbad consequences, without any proba
, biltv of their proving servceablc. An
early exhibition of full vomiting is very
, proper, in order to bring on a dctermina-
: tion of the Guilds to the surface Of the body,
which not only contributes to the expulsion
of the existing cause, and thereby proven
tive of an inflammation of the lungs, sc.
but often brings on a salutary perspiration
over the Whole body, a copious secretion OF
mucus in the bronch!ae, faucus and nose
and in this anticipating CT assisting nature
: in her own way III bringing on a mid solu-
ton Of the disease. it viii therefore be best
to limit full vomiting 20 the first stage of the
complaint, and atterward 10 supply its place
> by emetic medicines in small doses, ire
queDtly repeated, so as to keepup pretty
constant nausea for which purpose the gum
ammoniaC, antlmonial wine, or emctic tar
| tar is usnall} prescribed and, though any
one OF lhem will answer tolerab,y well, the
latter being copiously diluted and frequent
~ given in small quantity, seems to have
been attended with the happiest effects, by
rendering the bowels moderately open, and
keeping up gentle diaphnresis. This
medicine administered in this manner, FIN
thc opinion Of doctor james Carmichael
Smyth1 had also a very remarkable effect
in bringing OF remission of the febrlle
symptoms, and in accelerating the tcrmina-
ton Of the disease"
However, the long continued use Of anti
monials, or Of nauseating medicines # any
kind, is apt at length 10 debiitatG the sto-
mach so much as to render il, i'm a good
measure, incapable Of retaining food, drink,
e or medicine and this, perhaps t a time
when they are most ncedful. These me-
3, dcines likew Sc soon loose their .ndorifc
e power over the system, and, as Dr.. Donald
- Monro assures Us, even James celebrated
b fcbrifuge powders have occasioned such a
{ purging as to hasten the patients 70 their
e graves.
The M1CTURA MUCILAG1NOSA,s
which is very frequently used in the Phla.
dcipha Disp"nsary, is an agreeable and eff
Hcacicus medic he in most catarrhal com
lplaints particularly where the cough is
, very distressing ard the necessary cyJcu-
lations have been previously made. 4 table
spoonful every two or three hours, accord
ing as The cough, an,,icty, morbid watch
g. ,ts..r..t ii