The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-10
MARION MEDICAL SOCIETY.
An Interesting Paper Is Followed by Prof
liable Discussion


liable Discussion.
The Marion County Medical Society last night
discussed the subject of pyrexia and its relations
to hyperpyre&ia, as continuation of the mat
tiers brought up at the preceding meeting by DR.
John Chambers in his paper on Authorizations
of Quinine." OF late years the main use of
quinine has been for the reduction of tempera-
ture rather than as a tonic or as an antidote to
malaria
DR.. Waterman was requested to open the dis
cusson, and did so for over half an hour pre-
senting no formal paper, but covering the physi
illogical and pathological principles involved in
a very logical and comprehensive manner He re
garded fevetin well-marked case, as of typhoid
as IAN oNidation of the albumnous portion of
the blood and of the tissues of the body" The
causes of heat disturbance in the animal econ
omy are very complex and are acting a very
complex organization, making the problem very
difficult in itself, and in many cases the Doctor
thoughtthe "injndicious.drugging business only
added fuel to the fame Everything which
affects the body, either physically or mentally
bad news, drink, hot or cold malposition, as
with the head hanging downward tends to
change the temperature of the body from the
normal, which is 9Sao Fahrenheit; there may be
increase or decrease. The balance is only kept
by the heat-regulating functions of the body
that is by evaporation from the free surfaces Of
the body.
Dr. Waterman regarded the increase or de-
crease of heat as only symptom Of the diseases
which they accompany Sometimes it is sufficient
to meet the symptom by reducing the heat at once.
FevePs are essentially nutritive disturbances
they are distinct and separate-there is a chol
cvr,,11i1
the fever is a symptom of various and different
diseases. the best antipyretic remedy is the one
that strikes at the cause Of the disease. There
is no safety in routinism each case must be
treated on its merits. 1t is not always safe or
necessary to reduce the temperature at once.
Any drug or method which pulls the TEN
perature in a few moments from LOG to
9Sa is a dangerous element, and may do
greatharm. Deterioration of the system must
be effectual; the cause of the fever must be at
tackled and destroyed. just here physiology and
therapeutics often fail US, and all that do
is to meet the symptoms Aconite, veratrum
salicin quinine, catharsis and bleeding may have
their proper place in the treatment any of them
may be abused in their use The true treat
ment is to treat the man, and not the name of
his disease 1t is always safe to remove the SUI
perhuous heat of the skin by the application of
water, warm cool, by bathing or sponging, iu-
diciously and cautio usly, avoiding sudden reduc-
ton and shock The skin is reflected inward
and lines,th alimentary canal, and SO theus of
The Doctor closed by citing his experience
with lotion of snlphurons acid and of chlorine
water, in a case of scarlet fever, which reduced
the temperature from 104 to 100 degrees, and
which, perhaps, destroyed the toxic element
which was the cause of the disease. His remarks
received throughout the closest attention, and
showed throughout study of the chemistry and
physiology of the human body far more erudite
and technical than is ordinarily presented in the
Marion County Medical Society.
DR. Harvey was impressed with ff1e belief that
we have in the nervous system a heat center,
and it is the affections of this which
produce the perturbation of temperature.
He would always reduce q high temperature and
also look to the curing of the disease by destruc-
ton of the toxic element. He believed in the
efficiency of quinine and salicine, judiciously ad-
ministered in reducing temperature, and where
the causes of the fever are infammatory he
would use aconite. Anodynes arc often indi-
Gated and the fact that such n variety of RENE
dies produce the same effect tends to show the
presence of a heat nervous center in the body
DIR. Stillson discussed the physiology of heat
production and elimination. He regarded anti
pyreties substances which furnish something
for the excess of oxygen in the blood to act
upon.
Dr. Eastman commended the paper. He
thought that not enough attention was paid to
the study and treatment of sub7normal tempera-
lures. We have much to learn from the do-noth-
ing pathie doctors. Often we do we'll TO with
draw the remedies and watch the natural history
of the disease.
Dr. j. l.. Thompson said Dr. Waterman's
paper opened up to him world of thought, and
convinced him we had not learned 1T all as yet.
He scarcely Thought quinine was indicated in
fevers which. like typhoid, ran from week to
week, completing their course in spite of RENE
dies, He favored the tepd rather than the cold
water, which shocks TN patient. We need
'gumption" rather than theories we ride hobbies
in medicine, and make it an educated empiri-
cism.
DR. Thompson made strong plea for ''gump-
ton" in medical practice-good horse sense, even
if possessed by a horse doctor.
DR. F, Ferguson believed in specific poisons
producing different fevers, but not that there is
casual relation between definite species of veg
etable germs and diseases
DR. w. f. Jefries, who is to read paper next
Tuesday, continued the discussion, with Drs
Chambers. D. N. Bryan, Brayton, Todd, Keegan
and others