In the preparation of injections for the cure of female discharges, it must be remembered that, if they be of a vegetable nature, their efficacy wholly depends upon the Tannin which they contain, and the prescriber must therefore take care not to invalidate the force of this principle by any incompatible additions.
And it deserves to be remembered, that as Tannin has the power of coagulating animal mucus, and of forming with it an insoluble precipitate, its administration, as an injection, is liable to occasion the evacuation of whitish or ash-coloured flakes, which will come away from time to time, and excite in the patient’s mind, says Mr. Clarke, the apprehension that she is voiding portions of the internal parts of the body, unless her mind be prepared for the occurrence by a previous explanation, and which the judicious practitioner will not neglect to afford. In some cases it will be necessary to correct the irritating effect of the astringent by the addition of a demulcent, as exemplified in Form. 61. In applying this form of remedy an ivory syringe should be always preferred to one of pewter, whenever the solution is likely to be affected by the contact of a metal.
INHALATIONES. Inhalations.
Under this general title may be comprehended two distinct classes of volatilized substances, viz.
Dry Fumes (Suffitus), and Watery Vapours (Halitus).
Before we enter upon the consideration of this particular form of remedy, it may be necessary to state, generally, that it appears to be capable of affording a very expeditious and powerful mode of affecting the body by certain medicines. If the power of a remedy be so greatly modified by circumstances affecting its solubility, as we have already proved, it cannot be a matter of surprise that the still farther diminution of its cohesion should occasion a corresponding influence upon its energies; indeed it would appear that some few substances are entirely inert when applied under any other form, see Hydrargyrum, in the after part of this work. We are, moreover enabled by these means, to bring various bodies into immediate contact with organs, which are inaccessible to such remedies in every other state of aggregation. This observation applies more particularly to the lungs, and the subject has lately occupied the attention of a worthy and skilful physician, whose work[[305]] is well entitled to the serious consideration of the profession.
The practice of causing patients to inhale various volatilized substances appears to have been of very ancient date. It has been already stated in this work (p. 39) that the fumes of Orpiment were directed to be breathed by Galen, and that the practice has been adopted by practitioners of later date.[[306]] Few attempts of this kind however were made, until the time of our countryman Bennet, the author of “Theatrum Tabidorum,” who arranges volatilized substances into the two classes which have been announced at the head of the present section, viz. Suffitus, and Halitus. The numerous trials which have been since made with the different gases must be in the remembrance of every reader, but unfortunately, the injudicious and empirical spirit with which these inquiries have hitherto been conducted, has thrown such discredit upon the subject, that the practitioner who should resume the investigation, must be prepared to hear his understanding, or his integrity, questioned.
Suffitus. Fumes of Burning Substances. The particular forms of pulmonary disease in which Tar fumes appear to be most serviceable, are of the chronic kind; where an inflammatory diathesis prevails, or any tendency to hæmopthysis exists, the practice cannot be said to be free from danger. In treatment of hooping cough the inhalation of tar fumes have been also said to be beneficial. For the mode of applying this remedy, see Pix Liquida.
The practice of smoking the roots of Stramonium, Tobacco, &c. might with propriety be noticed under this head. With the respect to the former of these remedies, much has been said and written, and asthmatic patients have occasionally expressed a belief in its palliative powers; in my own practice however, I have never met with any success that has inspired my confidence. See Stramonii Herba.
Halitus. Aqueous Vapours. In certain catarrhal affections, when accompanied with painful and difficult expectoration, benefit may be occasionally obtained from the inhalation of the steam of hot water, or of vinegar and water, the acid in this case assisting the expectoration, while the whole acts as an emollient and soothing application to the tender and inflamed vessels of the internal surface of the bronchial tubes. The same practice is also highly serviceable in Cynanche Trachealis, and Tonsillaris.