The medical guide, for the use of the clergy, heads of families, and practitioners in medicine and surgery / [Richard Reece].

  • Reece, Richard, 1775-1831
Date:
1828
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The medical guide, for the use of the clergy, heads of families, and practitioners in medicine and surgery / [Richard Reece]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    39/596 (page 13)
    AN’FISPASMODICS. 18 weak ; and the latter, although they cannot bring the voluntary muscles properly under the influence of their minds, in conse- quence of nervous debility, generally possess strong muscles. — Many facts may be adduced to prove that muscular power is independent of nervous influence. When the branch of the eighth pair of nerves leading to the stomach is divided, the muscles of the stomach and of the parts which sympathise. with it, as the diaphragm, &c., are brought into excessive action, so - as to occasion vomiting, and the same takes place when the brain is compressed, either by a fractured skull, or blood, or serum effused within the head, to an extent as to paralyse the whole nervous system. ‘There is clearly an equilibrium of ac- tion existing between muscles and nerves, and if this be disturbed suddenly, the muscles become violently contracted, producing cramp or general convulsions, as in cases of epilepsy, from organic mischief or irritation inthe brain. We also find the topical remedies which allay nervous excitement to increase mus~ cular action or bring on spasms, as ‘application of cold, loss of blood, prussic acid, lead, &c. The internal use: of the vomic nut, or the preparation termed strychnine, will diminish nervous energy, and.increase the excitability of muscles, so as to render their action independent of the will.. Spasms are, therefore, not dependent on debility, nor are they nervous affections, but are the consequence of increased action of the contractile powers of muscular fibres, from excess, rather than dimimution of excitability. The antispasmodics in general use are, morphine, the acetate of ammonia, &c. When the complaint exists in the chest, stomach,” or intestines, the acetate of morphine with ether and the cam- phorated julep, forms a very efficacious remedy. When the cause is an acid in the stomach, magnesia or soda will prove antispas- modic, and the efficacy is increased by an aromatic article, as peppermint water, or compound spirit of ammonia in water; when in the muscles of the belly or in the extremities, a mixture of ether and tincture of belladonna, held closely over the affected part, so as to prevent the evaporation of the ether generally allays spasms or inordinate muscular action, in a few moments. (See Laupanum, AcetratE or Morpuine, E:rner and Spasms.) The most powerful antispasmodic medicine is the deadly night- shade, but this in too great a dose often throws the whole mus- cular system into excessive action. ‘The anodyne vapour bath is also an excellent antispasmodic, ,when the complaint is exten- sive, or shifts from one part to another... In robust subjects, astringent medicines, as Peruvian bark, render the recurrence of ‘spasms in those predisposed to’ them, more frequent and obsti- nate. ‘The various articles employed as antispasmodics, like the