OF WATER IN THE HEAD.
Though water in the head, or a dropsy of the brain, may affect adults as well as children, yet, as the latter are more peculiarly liable to it, we thought it would be most proper to place it among the diseases of infants.
CAUSES.——A dropsy of the brain may proceed from injuries done to the brain itself by falls, blows, or the like; it may likewise proceed from an original laxity or weakness of the brain; from scirrhous tumours or excrescences within the skull; a thin watery state of the blood; a diminished secretion of urine; and, lastly, from tedious and lingering diseases, which waste and consume the patient.
SYMPTOMS.——This disease has at first the appearance of a slow fever; the patient complains of a pain in the crown of his head, or over his eyes; he shuns the light; is sick, and sometimes vomits; his pulse is irregular and generally low: though he seems heavy and dull, yet he does not sleep: he is sometimes delirious, and frequently sees objects double; towards the end of this commonly fatal disease, the pulse becomes more frequent, the pupils are generally dilated, the cheeks flushed, the patient becomes comatose, and convulsions ensue.
MEDICINE.——No medicine has hitherto been found sufficient to carry off a dropsy of the brain. It is laudable, however, to make some attempts, as time or chance may bring many things to light, of which at present we have no idea. The medicines generally used are, purges of rhubarb or jalap with calomel, and blistering-plasters applied to the neck or back part of the head. To which we would beg leave to add diuretics, or medicines which promote the secretion of urine, such as are recommended in the common dropsy. A discharge from the nose ought likewise to be promoted by causing the patient to snuff the powder of asarum, white hellebore, or the like.
Some practitioners have of late pretended to cure this disease by the use of mercury. I have not been so happy as to see any instances of a cure being performed in a confirmed dropsy of the brain; but in so desperate a malady every thing deserves a trial[[193]].
CHAP. L.
OF SURGERY.
To describe all the operations of surgery, and to point out the different diseases in which these operations are necessary, would extend this article far beyond the limits allotted to it: we must therefore confine our observations to such cases as most generally occur, and in which proper assistance is either not asked, or not always to be obtained.
Though an acquaintance with the structure of the human body is indispensably necessary to qualify a man for being an expert surgeon; yet many things may be done to save the lives of their fellow-men in emergencies by those who are no adepts in anatomy. It is amazing with what facility the peasants daily perform operations upon brute animals, which are not of a less difficult nature than many of those performed on the human species; yet they seldom fail of success.
Indeed every man is in some measure a surgeon whether he will or not. He feels an inclination to assist his fellow-men in distress, and accidents happen every hour which give occasion to exercise this feeling. The feelings of the heart, however, when not directed by the judgment, are apt to mislead. Thus one, by a rash attempt to save his friend, may sometimes destroy him; while another, for fear of doing amiss, stands still and sees his bosom-friend expire without so much as attempting to relieve him, even when the means are in his power. As every good man would wish to steer a course different from either of these, it will no doubt be agreeable to him to know what ought to be done upon such emergencies.