Some remarks on morbus coxarius, with an account of P.S. Physick's method of treating this disease / by J. Randolph.

  • Randolph, J. (Jacob), 1796-1848.
Date:
1831
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Some remarks on morbus coxarius, with an account of P.S. Physick's method of treating this disease / by J. Randolph. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    morbus coxarius occurring in patients of a decidedly scrofulous con- stitution; so far from this being correct, however, in several instances complete cures have been effected in such patients. In order to have the splint properly constructed, it is necessary to employ a regular carver. Mr. Rush, an ingenious workman of this city, is always resorted to by Dr. Physick for this purpose. The drawing annexed to this paper will convey a tolerably correct idea of the form of the splint, and its mode of application. See Plate II. It is scarcely necessary for me to add, that the treatment which I have just detailed, is particularly adapted to morbus coxarius prior to the period of suppuration. When abscesses form and burst, it ge- nerally becomes necessary to apply soft poultices, and in some in- stances to support the patient's strength by gentle stimulants and a nourishing diet. The splint, however, must be regarded as the im- portant remedy in all cases in which the head of the femur is not either destroyed by caries or pushed out of its natural socket by the disease, and even then it favours a cure very considerably by pro- moting anchylosis. I have now described the method of treatment which is pursued by Dr. Physick, for the cure of the ulceration of the cartilages of the hip-joint. It would be an easy matter to cite numerous cases in support of its efficacy; these however have increased to such an extent, as to render their publication almost a work of supereroga- tion.* * I take great pleasure in publishing the following letter, received from my friend, Dr. B. H. Coates, and am exceedingly happy to have the sanction of his experience in favour of the splint. My dear Doctor,—It gives me much pleasure to reply to your inquiry as to my experience in the use of carved splints in cases of morbus coxarius. I am sorry to be obliged to speak from memory alone; not having preserved records of the cases; but if this be sufficient, I can give the result of some observations made not without care, and with a great desire to ascertain the truth. During my residence in the Pennsylvania Hospital, as well as since, I have seen splints carved to fit the part, applied to a number of cases, some of which were in the ulcerated stage, and others less advanced. The splint was used in combination or alternation with blisters, issues, setons, confinementto bed, and purgatives administered every other day, and in some instances also with mo- derate exercise. It appeared to me that the splint was decidedly more success- ful than any one of these remedial means; and I incline to the opinion, that it is in many instances superior to any number of them combined. I do not think it was ever employed without a perceptible amelioration of the symptoms, within the space of one or two days. The patient frequently stated that he ob- tamed, in the night following its application, sounder sleep than for many