Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 1169

THOMAS BEDDOES (1760-1808) Observations on the medical and domestic management of the consumptive; On the powers of digitalis purpurea; and, On the cure of schrophula. Longman and Rees 1801 270 [1] 132 (misnumbered 172) pp., plate. 20.6 cm.

For more information on this author or work, see number: 1167

Only a few years later, Beddoes published this further work on his experiences in treating consumption and also presented his ideas on treating and curing scrofula, using many case histories to illustrate his observations. He concentrates chiefly on the use of warm and cold air environments for his consumptive patients and also discusses his use of digitalis, fully recognizing its inherent dangers. He recommended muriatic acid for scrofula and commented that "There are very few of the common forms of scrophula in which I have not had successful experience of the muriate of lime" (p. 228). One of the appendices contains "Cases and observations on the medicinal efficacy of digitalis purpurea, in phthisis pulmonalis with speculations on its modus operandi and on analogous remedies" by Robert Kinglake (1765-1842). Many of the patients reported on were treated at the Pneumatic Institution and were also attended privately by Kinglake, who first published his paper in 1800. Another appendix includes Johann Christian Friedrich Harless' (1773-1853) "Efficacy of the internal use of the oleum hyoscyami in haemoptoe." Harless, a professor at Erlangen, had originally published his paper in German and a friend had translated it for Beddoes. Although Beddoes commented that he could not substantiate Harless' claims for the remedy's superiority as a medication for pulmonary hemorrhage, Beddoes was impressed with Harless' observations and felt his report deserved consideration.

Cited references: Cushing B239; Wellcome II, p. 129

Gift of Robert N. Larimer, M.D