History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

1 12 History of Medical Practice in Illinoisof Springfield that "the uses of large doses of opium and calomel weresuperior to small doses in fevers, particularly dysentery, typhoid andbilious intermittents." The committee reported much dysentery and "periodicalfever"1851.(malaria), and a serious epidemic of cholera in the fall ofDr. Hosmer A. Johnson spoke of cancerous disease as caused by "morbidaccumulation and distribution of calcareous and other salts." He suggestedthat cure could be obtained by exclusion of any excess of salines or theirremoval from the system. However, he advocated the use of large doses ofcommon salt in typhoid and in "intermittents" because of its quality of preservingthe blood globules and acting as an alterative and tonic.There was considerable discussion of the use of "extract of beef's blood"or "extractum sanguines" in the treatment of anemias of whatever cause,as such extract provided "globuline hematine salts mixed with fibrin"which are "precisely the ingredients that are most deficient in anemia."Dr. A. B. Palmer discussed the pathology of spontaneous hemorrhagebefore the Chicago Medical Society in February 1852, and outlined thecauses as: (1) structure and physical qualities of the blood vessels whereblood escaped; (2) abnormal condition of the quality and quantity of theblood, and (3) abnormal conditon of the force with which the blood is repelled.Cod liver oil was highly recommended at this time for stomatitis materna"nursing sore mouth," and in cases of marasmus in children.An interesting case of rattlesnake bite was reported, with marked purpura,bleeding gums, leg ulcers and incoagulability of the blood. Thebleeding surfaces were dressed with "matico," and the patient was given5 grains of potassium iodide alternated with 15 grains of sodium chloridefor a few days; then 25 drops of oil of turpentine every 6 hours until oozingsubsided, and then 5 grains of quinine with each dose of oil. There wasrapid recovery with a sloughing of part of the bitten finger.Publication of the Northwestern Medical and Surgical Journal continued.Through the years it was fortified by extracts from the proceedings ofmedical societies, addresses to graduating classes, editorials, book notices,foreign as well as domestic letters, and much medical miscellany frommedical literature. Illinois physicians also contributed their articles: Dr.Erial McArthur of the Cook County Medical Society wrote at length concerningtyphoid fever and Asiatic cholera; Dr. Samuel Thompson of Albionand Dr. J. J.Lescher of Mt. Carmel described milk sickness and malaria indetail, and both thought milk sickness to be malarious in nature. Otherpapers which appeared in this publication during 1852, were "Pathologyof Epilepsy" by Dr. B. Marshall Hall, and "Pathology of Asphyxia" by Dr.Thomas Johnson of the University of Virginia.