Thomas Chadbourne - Lecture Notes

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Vault Smith 1.25 50 Thomas 75

Notes taken from Dr Smiths lectures. - 1815

Diseases are naturally divided into general & local. They are again divided into those affecting the sanguiferous, Absorbent, Bron Bronchial, Chilo-poctic, Nervous, Urinary Lymphatic, Cellular, Loco-motive, systems; to which may be added the system of bones. - Each of these systems in which the human body is naturally divided is subject to peculiar diseases & require a particular mode of treatment. In administering to the cure of diseases we first try to find the seat of the disease, we examine the state of each of the systems in succession. If we find a strong, full & regular pulse, the disease is not in the sanguiferous system: Should the powers & faculties of the mind be unimpaired we are satisifed the nervous system is not affected. should we find the digestive organs in a healthy action, no flatulence, nausea

&c, we think the disease is not in the Chylopoctic system, should we find any degree of strangury, urine high coloured & in small quantity or otherwise deviating from the healthy standard, we suspect the seat of the disease to be in the genital system, & administer medicine having a peculiar action on that system. The Sanguiferous system includes the heart arteries & veins. Inflammation is the most simple affliction of this system, & is divided into two kinds, Erisipilatous & phlegmonous. The former is seated superficially & attacks the skin, the latter the cellular substance & [dupsiated] parts. - Erisiphilatous inflammation begins with a slight redness of the part & gradually extends more or less over the surface of the body & is peculiarly liable to terminate in gangrene. All wet applications (except the fermenting poultice) I believe are hurtful in this disease. Dry flower or any absorbent powder sprinkled on the part, or what perhaps is better, bats of wool filled

(3) flower applied to the part - is all that is needful. If the inflammation runs high bleeding may be necessary. Should blood spots appear & we fear gangrene we apply the fomenting poultice made as follows. -

Ry - Any quantity of barley, boil & thicken with flower, then spread on a cloth about one inch thick, then add yeast to the surface of the poultice to produce fermentation, & apply it about blood warm. -

This should be kept on about on about 12 hours, during which time an abundance of carbonic acid gas will be evolved. I have an idea that blisters would be an useful application in this course in order to induce a new action in the part.

Phlegmonous inflamation is deeper seated not so apt to terminate in gangrene, but usually by supuration or resolution. Sugar of [???] has long been a favourite remedy for inflammation but I think it very seldom does any good, & very often