The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-05-02
HEART FAILURE.
An Old surseOn,s Method Of Freatment.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE; Comrade Ais
paugh, 31st Ohio, in your issue Of the 18th ul5.
asks question within a question. He wishes
to be informed Why within the last year OF two
there have been so many cid soldiers mustered
out by or because Of heart failure, and, besides,
how to utilize the vigor left as?
If COmTade Allspaugh had been engaged for
the last % or % years carefully examining old
soldiers, he would not eOHfue his inquiry 70
the last two or three, or even 10 or Is years.
Several years ago the writer (then, as now, a ..
S. Examining Surgeon for the Pension Ofice)
inquired of the Referee if other Examining
Surgeons reported as great proportional num-
Der of heart cases as did he
COmrade Allspaugh's questions, definitely
and fully, or possibly only partially, answered
would require dissertation of more length
than you would probably care to air in your
paper, and longer than the writer would wish
to write for the secular press; but q few
thoughts of an extensive experience in the
field as Surgeon, and since in 3 general and
special practice, may give the cOmrade and
others some hope to assist in retaining the
vigOr left, and also in assisting TO put of the
final muster-Out. l expect in this little article
to only give an index to what might be said on
the subjects of his compound question.
A personal need for the last several years has
caused me to examine the effect of remedies
with very great care. But do not wish to
take up your space with the long personal de-
tail of circumstances which has been passed
through by myself, by and through which has
been developed my conviction as TO cause OF
the condition he mentions, whether il be
stenOsis or inetHcieney, and the result of treat
ment, etc.
1t has been my experience that men who
have been often in battle, their nervous sys-
TENS strung TO the highest tension; men who
have made rapid marches, doHble-quiek etc;
men who have been exhausted with diarrhea or
broken down by long marches, or thermal fever
or any great facilitating cause are frequently
ultimately, ifnOt Immediately, subjects of heart
arrangement IN some fOrm-nOt always organic,
but frequently so.
/ have found when the pulse is exceedingly
rapid and very weak that q few drops, three or
four repeated may be neededl Of the fluid
extract of digitalis made by some reliable
manufacturer viii usually slow the arterial
action and increase its strength. And when
| the pulse intermits, a small amount Of good
whisky will to a great degree remedy the de-
feet. 1t may have to be repeated at short in
tervals for an hour or two. Habitual drinkers,
or those subject 70 intOxicatiOu, viii probably
not receive the benefit desired. For the last
few months / have found trinitin-nitro-
glyceTine-Jhe most effective remedy and quick
est IN action in this type of heart condition. A
little over three weeks ago I tested its action
ID the case of an ex-sOldier who was being ex-
amined by our Board of Surgeons. His pulse
intermitted regularly every third beat; he was
given one-fftieth of grain OF trinitin. In six
minutes the pulse intermitted once in u beats
while sitting, but when standing it partially
intermitted giving a qUiyeriHg sense 20 the
applied finger. In II minutes the intermissiOn
entirely ceased when sitting, but when stand
ing an occasional culver or semi-i termission
occurred occasionally. Twenty-Five minutes
after the administration of the remedy he was
again carefully examined, and the pulse was
regular and full in any position examined and
the complete and most thorough examination
of his condition in every way was proceeded
with, taking half hour or more, and be left
the office without the return of the intermis-
sion.
In my own case have never been so careful
to note the time required to get relief, and
usually take but One-huudredth of grain, and
sometimes repeat it. This is certainly as full
in detail as should be given IN 4 secular paper,
and would not have been presented only with
hope that it might be of service TO some OF
the old boys who faced the music when the
animal was large.-OLD SURGEON, George
town, 0.