The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-21
cREosors AND CONSUMPTION.


The Drug Would Seem to he Able to Mas
ter the 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. DIR. Warner, consulting physician
to tho 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, / have watched with
great encouragement the steady gain in
the results obtained, but ii has been
only during the latter half of the 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 more 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
lessening tho bronchial secretion and
improving the appetite. Other observ-
ers, however, believe in distinctively
curative value of the remedy.
DIR. Warner writes: The general con-
dition of the patient, as a rule, rapidly
improves. In some cases the appetite
is better, the cough at first becomes less
during the daytime, while remaining
quite as before during the night. After
time, however, it also lessons at night.
If the sputum has been tinged with
blood, this condition disappears, con-
trary to what might be expected, as cre-
osote is said to cong9st the bronchial
mucous membrane, and while at first
the sputum is not much lessened, If at
all, its character is changed-from be-
ing thick and yellow-muco-purulent,
in fact-it becomes thinner, fiothy and
contains less solid matter.
In no case where previously attacks
Of hemoptysis--spitting 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 a total absence Of
the daily fever. The weight of the pa
tient always increases at first, then it is
apt to remain stationary, and in excep-
tional cases may lessen, and then grad
ual increase takes place. The first in
crease in weight is no doubt due to the
improvement in appetite and the great
er ability Of the patient to properly as
simulate the food consumed"
Large amounts of creosote may be re-
tanned without discomfort, one of DIR.
Warmers patients reaching daily
amount of 215 minims. A valuable aid
to the internal administration of creo-
sote is found by the coincident use Of
antiseptic inhalations of creosote. my
custom is to use creosote combined Ell
ther with terebene or ether in a so per
cent solution, 10 or Is minims dropped
ON the sponge Of 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 the doctor.
He tried also the effect, in large
ward of hospital, of allowing an an
tiseptic 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 and two
drains of the last were put in about a
quart of water in shallow dish and
heat applied. The effect was to fill the
ward with pungent, aromatic vapor,
which has a markedly restful action,
coughing being not nearly so general or
frequent. York Ledger.