Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-21
DIR. HARTMAN'S
Lecture on Dysentery--Two Inter-
esting Cases Described.
A Young Physician Who Made Himself
Famous in the Treatment of
Acute Dysentery Many Years Ago-The Secret
OF 1t Revealed.

Dysentery, like diarrhea, is the result
of inflammation of the lining mucous
membrane of the bowels, the difference
being in the case of dysentery that the
Inflammation is confined to the lower
part of the large intestine, while in
diarrhea the Inflammation involves the
mucous lining of the bowels above. The
causes for each are nearly the same, and
the cure does not differ in any essential
particular. They differ from each other
in the character of the discharges more
than in any other particular, the dis
charge of diarrhea being mainly the
focal contents of the bowels, while the
passages of dysentery consist of mucus
and serum, the natural contents of the
bowels appearing in small, hard, sepa-
rate Jumps, called scybala. In the acute
form this disease is attended with fever.
1t is one of the pests of hot climates,
where at certain seasons of the year it
is very prevalent and destructive.
Armies and navies especially suffer from
its rayages.
CAUSES.
Exposure to cold and wet, the use of
unwholesome food, and the agency of
malaria and contagion are among the
most common causes. The most violent
forms of the disease occur in warm cli-
mates and in situations where the body
is exposed to extreme alterations of
cold and heat; aud hence there Is every
reason to believe these agencies have
something to do in its production. 1t Is
doubtful whether the use OF unwholesome
food or malarial poison alone would be
sufficient to produce dysentery, and the
general opinion among medical men is
that it is not contagious disease.
SYMPTOMS.
One of the earliest symptoms of dysen-
terry Is an uneasiness of the abdomen
soon amounting to pain of a gripping
character in the region of the navel.
There is frequent desire to go to stool,
and an evacuation affords temporary
relief. Unless the right treatment is
begun promptly the desire to evacuate
the bowels increases in intensity and fire.
queucy, and there is less relief ex-
perienced by the evacuation. The dis
charge ia scanty, aud consists either en-
tirely of a jelly-like mucus or mucus
mixed with blood, films, membranous
shreds and fragments resembling flesh.
treme pain instead of bringing relief,
and the patient is tormented by sensa-
ton that there is something to come
away, the expulsion of which would cure
him, and is irresistabIy impelled to
strain to rid himself of the irritation. If
allowed to RIM into an advanced stage of
the disease the stools become greenish or
black, and very fetid. The bladder
frequently, by reflex sympathy with the
rectum, becomes irritable, and a con-
slant desire to void urine adds to the
misery of the patient. Nausea and
vomiting sometimes ensues. The patient
passes sleepless or dreamy and disturbed
nights, aud is low-spirlted and despond-
ent.
If not treated properly the pulse be-
comes very small and rapid, the features
sharpen, the surface grows cold, and
death at length sets in.
The duration of dysentery is very I'M
certain. In some cases it proves fatal in
a few days, or even hours, and in others
il may last for months. Two stages of
this disease are recognlZed-the inflam-
matorv and the Lucrative. 1t is espec-
tally fatal IN very young children and
very old people, and not a moment is to
be lost after the first symptoms appear.
TREATMENT.
In dysentery we have but another
example of Inflammation OF a mucous
membrane for which Pe-ru-ns is the
only absolute specific known. In life
time of the practice of medicine [ have
never failed to cure single case of dys-
entery or any other mucous Inflammation
with Pe-ru-na. To better describe the
details of my treatment in this form1d-
able disease 1 will give the particulars of
q case or two occurring in my regular
practice.
The first case I select was during my
early practice in Tippecanoe, Ohio, over
years ago. 1 was called in
great haste TO see a very sick patient |
some four miles distant on the New Car
yle turnpike. Upon my arrival 1 was
10 meet my old precepter, the |
distinguished DR.. Shackelford, who had |
been called before me in consultation |
with the attending physician, whose |
name have forgotten. As the result |
If their consultation, which had been |
leld before l was sent for, they had de- |
,ided that the case was past all cure. |
The patient was prominent man who |
lad been taken few days before with |
iysentery, and in spite of all the treat
nent that had been employed he rapidly |
allied from the beginning. The grief
stricken wife had already been informed
" the opinions of the physicians in
council that her husband was at the
Joint of death. An old lady, distant
'elative of the family, who happened to
,e present, asked DR.. Shackelford: "You
NOW DR.. Hartman, don t you?'' "Oh,
-ss, y" said he, 81 know him very we'll;
lie was a student of mine. - She went
N to say that she lived in Tippecanoe,
where Dr.. Hartman practiced, and there
vas raging at that time a violent cpl
Iemic of dyseutery, and, although other
Ioctors were unable to manage the dis
sse, DR.. Hartman had not lost a single
ase. ''Would you have any objections
o having DR.. Hartman called in consul
alton before we give up entirely?"
None whatever, says DR.. Shackel-
ord; 'fhave him sent for Immediately
nd we will wait. AS quick as possible
was brought to the apparently dying
nan. 1t required only a hasty glance at
ne pinched and livid countenance and
Tut touch of the cold brow, upon which
7as already gathering drops of cold per-
piration, to reveal TO me the desperate
mergency of the situation; and while
ouched lightly the clammy wrist to as
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