54

ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

tions to the urethra are made only for local purposes; either in a solidform, as caustic or medicated bougies, or in that of a liquid, as an injection:the latter is easily applied by a common syringe. Syringes of variouskinds, for this purpose, are sold by Messrs. Maw, of Aldersgate Street.

Injections are sometimes thrown into the bladder, but always for localpurposes. The operation is easily performed by attaching a catheter toan elastic bottle.

b. Vagino-uterine membrane. —Medicines are applied to the vagina anduterus to produce local effects only. Thus injections are made to relievevaginal discharges, to excite the catamenia, &c. They are usuallyliquids, but the following case, told me by my friend Dr. Clutterbuck,proves that gases are sometimes employed. A lady, who had suffered aconsiderable time from some uterine affection, and had derived no relieffrom the treatment adopted, was advised to consult a physician in Italy .After he had examined the condition of the uterus, he assured her therewas no organic disease, but merely a considerable degree of irritation;for which he proposed to apply carbonic acid, as a sedative. This wasdone by means of a pipe and tube, communicating with a gasometersituated in another room. The patient obtained immediate relief, andalthough she had been obliged to be carried to the doctor’s house, onaccount of the pain experienced in walking, she left it in perfect ease. Onher return to England, she had a relapse of the complaint, and applied toDr. Clutterbuck to know whether she could have the same remedy appliedin London, in order to save her the necessity of returning to Italy .

III. Applications to the serous membranes : a. Tunica vaginalis .—Irritating injections, such as wine and water, solutions of metallic salts,&c. are thrown into the cavity of the serous membrane of the testiclein hydrocele, in order to excite inflammation and the subsequent adhesionof the sides of the sac.

b. Peritoneum. —Injections have also been made into the peritoneal sac •in ascites, and in some cases with success.— ( Philosophical Transactions for the year 1744.) The practice, however, is very dangerous. Mr.Cooper ( Dictionary of Practical Surgery, art. Paracentesis ,) has seen twofatal cases of it.

IV. Applications to ulcers, wounds, and abscesses. —These areemployed principally to excite local effects, and sometimes, thoughrarely, to produce a constitutional affection. Thus it has been proposedto apply corrosive sublimate to wounds, with the view of causing salivation. ;

V. Injection of medicines into tiie veins, (Chirurgia infusoria-, ,1

Ars clysmatica nova ; Infusion of medicines.) —This history of this opera-tion is inseparably connected with that of Transfusion. The first experi- jjments on infusion are said to have been performed in Germany . (See |Paul Scheel’s work, entitled “ Pie Transfusion des Bluts und Einsprutzung '(der Arzneyen in die Adern ,” Kopenhagen, 1802: Zweiter Band, 1803.) ;But the first scientific examination of the operation was made by SirChristopher Wren.—( Philosophical Transactions for 1665, vol. i. p. 131.)llis example was followed by Boyle, Clarke, Ilenshaw, Lower, and others.(For further information on the history of this operation, consult Scheel’s 1work, before quoted; also Dieffenbach’s essay, “ Ueber die Transfusion |des Bluts und die Infusion der Arzneien,” 1833; or Marx ’s, “ Pie Lehre 1von den Gif tenf 1827 and 1829.) i

The partisans of this method of treatment assert, that when medicines |