The Climatic Treatment of Disease
The Climatic Treatment of Disease
复制标题
疾病的气候治疗
DOI:
10.1136/bmj.1.2426.1572-c
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发表时间:
1907
影响因子:
--
通讯作者:
A. Bampton
中科院分区:
文献类型:
--
作者:
A. Bampton
MORPHINOMANIA TREATED SUCCESSFULLY WITH ATROPINE AND STRYCEININE. SIR,-Dr. John Q. Donald, in his letter in the BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL for June 8th, p. 1394, asks why and how my patient had stopped taking opium before coming to me. He did so from necessity, his means and the patience of his friends being exhausted. I have described his consequent state of misery and desperatiot, and neither he nor I saw the slightest reason to hope that he would gradually get all right by merely keeping him from his drug. As a matter of fact, ever since he realized that he had acquired the habit he had from time to time been making efforts to free himself, the sfrongest inducements and easier circumstances all alike--failing. I see no reason, therefore, to think that"'the struggle was practically over and that I only assisted the after-effects." I have already explained that the circumstances under which he was treated were about as unfavourable as they could well be." Tonics, fresh air, maesage, gentle exereise, nutritious diet, rest for mind and body," such as Dr. Donaldrelies on, were conspicuousby theirab3ence. Instead, worry, constant'effort of mind and body, scanty and il!-cooked food, unhygienic surroundings, insufficient clothing, and all the other ills of extreme poverty had to be contended with. In fact, my reason for hoping that the case would prove interesting, and perhaps instructive, was the entire absence of anyother factor in the treatment to which his present condition could be ascribed. Even suggestion, which is helpful ia some cases, was absent in this. My expprience of dipsomania does not lead me to agree with Dr. Donald that'the so-called craving is a mental condition over which drugs have no control." The restlessness, both mental and physical, which so often heralds the onset of an attack is only one of the many symptoms which patients may complain of. We know that alcohol has a toxic effect on the nervous system and that repeated and excessive doses give rise to definite pathological conditions; also that in every case of craving for alcohol there is to be found a history of alcoholism either before or after birth. I fail, therefore, to understand why the ailment should be considered purely mental. As to the fuller history of the case Dr. Donald asks for, perhaps the following particulars will suffice: The patient was agpd about 65 at the date of treatment and began smoking opium when 28. He had been much above the average in physique, intelligence, and education, but was now unable to make any prolonged muscular or mental effort, his memory lapsing when writing, totting up figures, etc. His family history was bad as regards alcoholism. Treatment was begun April 20th, 1906, with atrop. sulph.]-F grain, strych. nit. A-grain, thrice daily; increased by April 30th to atrop. 5 grain, strych.-2 grain; reduced on May 3rd to atrop. e the dryness of moutb, etc., lasting from one dose till next was due, and preventing his swallowing food. I began reducing atropine further on June lst, and stopped it on June 20th; the full doees of strychnine were maintained till middle of July and then gradually reduced to nil. It will be noticed that I kept him on large doses for a considerably longer period than Dr. M'Bride recommended. I did so because one of my alcoholic cases broke down badly after a fortnight's treat-ment, but after a later course prolonged for eight weeks bas kept perfectly well to date (just fifteen months). During the past couple of months he has been under-going a severe enough test of the stability of his condition in a troublesome affection which not only causes him considerable pain but also interferes greatly with his efforts to earn a livelihood …