The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-31
chEosoTE AND CONSUMPTION.
The Drug Would Seem to Be Able to Map
ter tho Disease.


The Drug Would Seem to Be Ablo to MAJ.
ter tho Disease.
Consumption is now combated by
many specialists using creosote. The
benefit derived from the proper employ
ment of this drug is hardly questiona-
BILE. DR.. Warner, consulting physician
to the French hospital, New York city,
writes to The Medical Journal: Dur
ing somewhat extensive employment
of this remedy in phthisis for the past
four years, both in hospital and in pri-
vate practice, l have watched with
great encouragement the steady gain in
the results obtained, but it has been
only during the latter half of tho time
that the positive value of creosote as an
agent for combating most powerfully
the effects of this disease has been made
apparent. Formerly my custom was to
administer the drug in small doses, ex-
ceptionally giving moro than six or eight
minims daily. During the last couple
OF years, however, the doses have been
largely increased with correspondingly
better results" Some specialists ex-
plain the favorable action of creosote in
ASooOhiAS3 tAO OlOuCultl SGCICIlOn anu
improving the appetite. Other observ-
ers, however, believe in distinctively
curative value of tho remedy.
DR.. Warner writes 1.-The general con-
dition of the patient, as rule, rapidly
improves. In some cases the appetite
is better, tho cough at first becomes less
during the daytime. whilo remaining
quite as before during the night. After a
time, however, it also lessons at night.
1t tho sputum has been tinged with
blood, this condition disappears, con-
trary to what might be expected, MS Gre
osote is said to congest tho bronchial
mucous membrane, and while at first
the sputum is not much lesscned if at
all, its character is changed be-
ing thick and yellow-muco-p urulent,
In fact-it becomes thinner, flothy and
contains less solid matter.
In no case where previously attacks
of hemoptysis-s splitting of blood had
occurred have they taken place after
the creosote treatment has been estab-
lished. The night sweats grow less and
in many cases entirely disappear, and
after awhile there is Il total absence of
the daily fever. The weight of the pa
t1ent always increases ut first. then it is
apt to remain stationary, and in cxcep-
tional cases may lessen. and then grad
ual increase takes place. Tho first in
crease III weight is no doubt due to the
improvement i'll appetite ana tho great
er ability OF the patient To properly as
simulate tho food consumed"
Large amounts Of creosotc may be re-
tanned without discomfort, one of DR..
Warmers patients reaching daily
amount of 3l5 minims. = valuable aid
to the internal administration of creo-
soto is found by the coincidcnt use of
antiseptic inhalatlons of creosotc. MY
custom IS TO uso crcosote combined Ell
Their with tercbenc OF ether in 80 per
cent solution, 10 or 10 minims dropped
on the sponge of a Robinson's inhaler,
and employed every second or third
hour, and in some instances where
marked benefit has been derived from
the employment of this measure the
respiratOr has been worn almost con-
stantly.' is the testimony of tho doctor.
He tried also tho effect, in large
ward of Il hospital, Of allowing an an
tlseptic mixture to simmer gently over
low fire during the night. This mix
ture generally consisted of oil of euca-
lyptus, carbolic acid and turpentine
A dram each of the first two andtwo
drains of the last were put in about
quart of water in shallow dish and
heat applied. The effect was to fill the
ward with a pungent, aromatic vapor,
Which has markedly restful action,
coughing being not nearly so general or
frequent. York Ledger.