Home › Medicine › Medicine (General Rules for treating)

Medicine (General Rules for treating)

General Rules for treating Diseases.

Rule 1. -In every complaint, whatever it may be called, if you find the pulse quick, hard, full, and strong, the head aching, tongue foul, skin hot, or those marks which denote it to be of an inflammatory nature, remember the plan is to reduce excitement by purging, low diet, drinking plentifully of cold water and lemonade, rest, etc.

Rule 2. If, on the contrary, the pulse be small, soft, feeble, and intermitting, the tongue dark, and great debility or weakness is evident, reverse the whole plan; the diet must be generous and nourishing, the bowels opened with gentle laxatives, and the strength supported by bark, sulphate of quinine, wine, and tonics of various kinds.

It is necessary, however, to be careful in distinguishing the weakness which is here meant, from that state of debility which arises from excessive action, from the stuffing up of the vessels, and which requires the lancet. As a mistake might prove fatal, attention should be paid to the pulse, by which they can be known. In that state which requires tonics, the pulse is small, soft sometimes like a thread, and quick. In the other, it is slower and full, giving considerable resistance to the pressure of the finger. Rule 3. If, in addition to those symptoms mentioned in the second rule, the tongue be covered with a black coat - foul, dark-looking sores form about the gums and insides of the cheeks - the breath be offensive, etc., the same class of remedies is to be vigorously employed, with a free use of acids and other antiseptic articles.

Rule 4.- Severe local pains, as in the head, side, etc., may require the use of the lancet, purging, and blisters to the part. Rule 5.-Incessant and earnest entreaties on the part of the sick for, or longing after, any particular article of diet, if steadily persevered in, may be safely indulged, whether the use of it agrees or not with our preconceived ideas on the subject.

Rule 6. În all fevers, where the pulse is quick, full and strong, the skin burning to the touch, and there is no perspiration, apply gently cold water over the head and limbs of the patient, wipe him dry and cover him in bed. If, in consequence of this, a chill be experienced, and the pulse sink, give warm wine, etc., and omit the water for the future. Should a pleasant glow, over the whole frame, follow the affusion, and the patient feel relieved by it, repeat it as often as may be necessary.

Rule 7. Observe carefully, the effects of various articles of food, as well as physic, upon your own body, and choose those which experience proves to agree best with you. It is a vulgar, but true saying, that "What is one man's meat is another's poison." When, however, the stomach is out of order, do not conclude hastily that a particular article is injurious; as, at such a time, everything may seem to disagree, and the simplest things are then the best.

Rule 8. - Keep a sick room always well ventilated. Plenty of fresh air is an important remedial agent in all diseases. It is not meant by this that the patient should be exposed to a direct current of air, which should be always avoided by well and sick.