Vol. 60, 1909 - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 229
where great nervousness prevails and cer- in a state of delirium. To these remedies,
tain alarm obtains the use of morphine sul- mainly digitalis, he has been restored to
phate and atropine sulphate will be most activity and is now living a very comfortuseful
in reducing this strain upon the cir- able life with a fixed mitral and aortic reculation.
The removal of dropsical effusion gurgitation. He knows he has this heart
is an important consideration in these cases malady. He is a cardiopath. The heart
and it is a condition which the digitalis can- muscle must be protected. If protected he
not re!mve promptly without material as- may live comfortably to old age. He repsistance.
Under such circumstance the use resents a large class who appeal for mediof
astrongcliolagogue,ascalomel,elaterium, cal guidance and treatment.
orelaterin, is advantageous. Excessiveliquid
diet should he supplanted by dry diet. In my The Violet and X-Ray Cbarms.
hands theinterdic'.ion of salt in the diet has By Robert Gray, M.D., Pichucalco, (,'maga.s,
been helpful in the reduction of the dropsical Mexico,
effusion. Under certain conditions the use
of vasodilator drugs are necessary to relieve Electricity, the medical magic, the light
the constricting effect upon the splanchnic of the world, the breath of the invisible, the
arteries and to assist in lifting the burden life of man, is a theme that elevates medifrom
an overtaxed heart muscle. Some- tation to lofty realms.
times it is imperative to maintain reft of the You people, practitioners, who see and
body in recumbent position. Anv muscu- hear its marvels at all hours of the day and
lar exertion but adds to the problem in night, in material servitude, where science
some cases. I recall a case referred bv Dr. has basely harnessed it in slavish work, do
J. W. Henson of Richmcmd, in which the not pause to contemplate its sublime merits
only change recommended to that already and render it that homage you should pay
practiced by him was to keep the patient with fear and trembling. Were you where
in the house for two weeks and that in an 1 am, in wild, remote, sequestered haunts
even temperature. This patient showed of primeval nature, with no electric contact
improvement and has been able to return other than the medical employment of the
to his usual duties. The gastrointestinal vitalizing current, you would enshrine it m
digestion should receive the constant atten- loftiest niche of the temple of fame, as I
tion of every clinician in his treatment of long have done and do now.
cardiopaths. The early elimination of the Why, every country physician should
toxic accumulation of acetone bodies or the have the violet and x ray portable coils and
indol agents. The clothing in winter should batteries, now both cheap and practicable
be warm and capable of maintaining an enough for a poor doctor to be their poseven
temperature upon the peripheral circu- sessor, as they frequently pay for themselves
latiou under all ordinary changes of weather several times in a year and render the phyand
climatic conditions. The success in sician far more secure in his practice. Were
the treatment of cardiac disease rests upon the profession free from prejudicial legisanother
factor. It depends upon the dos- lative shackles, and able to devote the time
age of the remedies used. In this class of wasted with the nonsense of State Boards
disease conditions where the endeavor is to to electricity and its scientific medical apre-establish
function the dosage must de- plication, it would certainly be a precious
pend, not upon the ordinary rules, but upon boon for suffering humanity. If your legisthe
physiologic effect of the remedv. Hav- lature could hear read in thunder tones the
ing a clear cut idea of the pathologic phe- bushels of letters that come down here to
nomena and the svmptom-complex to be me from collegiate practitioners ten to
dealt with, the remedv must be applied for forty years in harness and successful practhe
removal of such conditions as form the tice, unable to answer many useless quesproblem.
Watch must be kept up for the tions, the laws would certainly be modified,
earliest phvsiologic effects and the strictest W^e are merely in the embryonic electric
lookout must be maintained for the earliest question, new wonders even being in preptoxic
effect of the drugs. aration to surprise us. 1 here are electric
In all these cases the tonic treatment scientists who do not believe in electric imshould
be continued for such period as is possibility short of immortality on earth,
required to restore the functions of the heart. No one, as yet, probably ever speculates as
In conclusion, I recall a case of a boy, to the how of such eventuality and other
fourteen years old, who has had within the yet minor features not now in popular
last four years five attacks of broken com- dreams. . , .,
, j
pensation following rheumatic seizures. In But the every day practical, easily learned
this case dropsy occurred until the youngster and readily applied processes of clinical
was greatly increased over normal size, the electricity are what should engage the solicidyspnoea
was distressing and the heart was tude of every physician who has no porta-