The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-07-27

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has with them been found the most success
full; and we are happy to find that their opin-
ion, in relation to copious bleedings, cores
ponds precisely with our own. The labor of
the physicians on Wednesday, and some part
OF Thursday, is almost incredible. One ply
stefan reports 6fty-four cases which came un-
der his care, in the course of those two DAYS,
and many others were quite as much over
whelmed with business. As disorder seemed
exclusively confined to that particular class of
citizens, before mentioned, many Of whom
were Irish emigrants, aud who were without
the means Of paying for medical services, we
believe there has not been an instance where
any compensation has been demanded. An
timonial wine has been thought, by some, the
. most preferable emetc, where vomition was
evidently necessary, and this could always be
determined by the racking pains in the stom-
ach aud bowels.
ON DRINKING COLD WATER. a..
valuable article on this subject, written by
Physician" has been published in the
Boston DaiLyt 4drertiser, of which the follow
ing Is an abstract, not having room fer the
the whole article in our columns -
In one of the public prints the Tsncture of
CanPhor is said TO be specific, EDletics and
bloodIet'ing are recommended in all cases by
Others, and LGudanunl, it is we'll known, was
Inc laVourite and sole remedy Of the celebrat-
ed Dr. Rush. These means, so opposite in
their character. cannot, it is obvious, be adapt
ed TO every case, though each may be service
able IN some particular form of the affection.
The oversight consists in recommending one
remedy as adapted to every variety of the dis
ease; for the effects of cold water are very
different, IN my opinion, according to the state
OF the system at the time it is takeu.
| J will explain as briefly and intelligibly as
| can, my views on the subject, which are de-
rived solely from facts that have come under
my observation. When the cold water is ia
Ken IN large quantities into the body heated
perhaps to ITO or lis by exercise or exposure
| to the sun, while the temperature of the wa
ter is not more than 55, if the body be not de.
bhltated by heat and excessive perspiration,
and the muscular strength is unimpaired. the
effect will be spasmodic action of the stomach
IN the first instance, and Immediately after
violent, irregular, convulsive action of the
heart, by which great quantity of blood is
forced upon the brain, and the patient becomes
| apopleciic. Usually be is totally insensible.
at other times, though dull and stupid, he may
I be reused sufficiently to point out the seats of
bis pain, and he viii tell you, if he can speak,
| that 1t is in his stomach, heart aud head. In
these cases the skin is hot, and generally. |
may say, believe, always dry, and the pulse
is full, strong and irregular. The eyes are fre-
quently sufused [bloodshot, and in the worst
cases have glazed appearance, and often
times remain wide open. If a medical man
were called TO case of this kind, bloodlettins
would ne Immediately employed, and contin-
uef, till the stupor was removed and the pulse
reduced.
But the injurious effects of drinking cold
water are exhibited in another form, which
requires different mode of treatment. The
body is frequently exhausted by copious and
long continued sweating, and the muscular
power extremely reduced by labour and ex-
posure to the heat, at the very moment
when the water is taken into the stomach.
This organ then is thrown into violent and
irregular contractions, in which the beast
participates: these continue however but a
very short time, the vital power seems to
have been nearly exhausted before the
introduction of the cold liquid into the
system, which prostrates it completely,
and the patient falls down almost lfeess
The skin is cold and moist, the pulse il:
hardly perceptible at the wrist, and
When it is, it. is found to be excessively
weak and irregular. Many of these cases
terminate fatally before advice can be OBJ
tanned, but ii physician should arrive and
find the patient still alive with such symptoms
as have enumerated, would bleeding even 50
much as enter his head, among the remedies
to be employed: think mott at any rate do
not hazard much in saying that if he could un-
fortunately succeed in drawing any blood from
such a patient, that in my opinion all hopes
of his recovery might be abandoned at once.
The system evidently requires stimulants, both
external and internal, of the most active kind.
The feet, and ifpossible, the whole body should
be put into hot water if il can be only ap-
piled to the feet, bladder Of hot water should
De laid on the pit of the stomach, or a very
strong mustard seed pouiice, the body should
be rubbed with hot camphorated spirit, and if
the patient can swallow, Laudanunl, Either.
Tincture Of CamphOr, and Spirits Of Y4mnlonia,
one or all may be administered in such doses
as the urgency Of the case demands.
In conclusion, | would remark, that if the
view have taken of the subject be correct,
it must be obvious that the administration of
the remedies recommended should be confded
to none other than medical men, as few il any
other persons would be able to determine what
was adapted to each particular case.
9%S
DYSEyNTERY.