Jaundice | 18th Century Medicine

Contents

    About the author

    Edward St. Germain.
    Edward St. Germain

    Edward A. St. Germain created AmericanRevolution.org in 1996. He was an avid historian with a keen interest in the Revolutionary War and American culture and society in the 18th century. On this website, he created and collated a huge collection of articles, images, and other media pertaining to the American Revolution. Edward was also a Vietnam veteran, and his investigative skills led to a career as a private detective in later life.

    Contents

      “
      Editor’s note
      The following is a chapter from the book “Domestic Medicine” written by Dr. William Buchanan in 1785. It provides a fascinating insight into medical knowledge of the time, including the often haphazard and sometimes dangerous techniques used to treat certain injuries and illnesses in the 1700s. We have not edited this book chapter, and as a result it may contain old English spellings of certain words.
      ”

      Chapters

      THIS disease is first observable in the white of the eye, which appears yellow. Afterwards the whole skin puts on a yellow appearance. The urine too is of a saffron hue, and dies a white cloth of the same colour. There is likewise a species of this disease called the Black Jaundice.

      CAUSES. – The immediate cause of the jaundice is an obstruction of the bile. The remote or occasional causes are, the bites of poisonous animals, as the viper, mad dog, the bilious or hysteric colic; violent passions as grief, anger, &c. Strong purges or vomits will likewise occasion the jaundice.

      Sometimes it proceeds from obstinate agues, or from that disease being prematurely stopped by astringent medicines. In infants it is often occasioned by the meconium not being sufficiently purged off. Pregnant women are very subject to it. It is likewise a symptom in several kinds of fever. Catching cold, or the stoppage of customary evacuations, as the menses, the bleeding piles, issues, &c. will occasion the jaundice.

      THE patient at first complains of excessive weariness, and has great aversion to every kind of motion. His skin is dry, and he generally feels a kind of of itching or pricking pain over the whole body. The stools are of a whitish or clay colour, and the urine, as was observed above, is yellow. The breathing is difficult, and the patient complains of an unusual load or oppression on his breast. There is a heat in the nostrils, a bitter taste in the mouth, loathing of food, sickness at the stomach, vomiting, flatulency, and other symptoms of indigestion.

      IF the patient be young, and the disease complicated with no other malady, it is seldom dangerous; but in old people, where it continues long, returns frequently, or is complicated with the dropsy or hypochondriac symptoms, it generally proves fatal. The black jaundice is more dangerous than the yellow.

      REGIMEN – The diet should be cool, light and diluting, consisting chiefly of ripe fruits and mild vegetables: as apples boiled or roasted, stewed prunes, preserved plums, boiled spinage, &c. Veal or chicken broth, with llght bread, are likewise very proper. Many have been cured by living almost wholly for some days on raw eggs. The drink should be butter-milk, whey sweetened with honey, or decoctions of cool opening vegetables; or marsh-mallow roots, with liquorice, &c.

      THE patient should take as much exercise as he can bear, either on horseback, or in a carriage; walking, running, and even jumping, are likewise proper, provided he can bear them without pain, and there be no symptoms of inflammation. Patients have been often cured of this disease by a long journey, after medicines have proved ineffectual.

      AMUSEMENTS are likewise of great use in the jaundice. The disease is often occasioned by a sedentary life, joined to a dull melancholy disposition. Whatever therefore tends to promote the circulation, and to cheer the spirits, must have a good effect; as, dancing, laughing, singing, &c.

      MEDICINE. – If the patient be young, of a full sanguine habit, and complains of pain in the right side about the region of the liver, bleeding will be necessary. After this a vomit must be administered, and if the disease proves obstinate, it may be repeated once or twice. No medicines are more beneficial in the jaundice than vomits, especially where it is not attended with inflammation. Half a drachm of ipecacuanha in powder will be a sufficient dose for an adult. It may be wrought off with weak camomile-tea, or lukewarm water. The body must likewise be kept open by taking a sufficient quantity of Castile soap, or the pills for the jaundice recommended in the Appendix.

      FOMENTING the parts about the region of the stomach and liver, and rubbing them with a warm hand or flesh brush, are likewise beneficial; but it is still more so for the patient to sit in a bath of warm water up to the breast. He ought to do this frequently, and should continue it as long as his strength will permit.

      MANY dirty things are recommended for the cure of the jaundice; as lice, millepedes, &c. But these do more harm than good, as people trust to them, and neglect more valuable medicines; besides, they are seldom taken in sufficient quantity to produce any effects. People always expect that such things should act as charms, and consequently seldom persist in the use of them. Vomits, purges, fomentations, and exercise, will seldom fail to cure the jaundice when it is a simple disease; and when complicated with the dropsy, a scirrhous liver, or other chronic complaints, it is hardly to be cured by any means.

      NUMBERLESS British herbs are extolled for the care of this disease. The author of the Medicina Britannica mentions near a hundred, all famous for curing the jaundice. The fact is, the disease often goes off of its own accord; in which case the last medicine is always said to have performed the cure. I have sometimes however seen considerable benefit, in a very obstinate jaundice, from a decoction of hempseed. Four ounces of the seed may be boiled in two English quarts of ale, and sweetened with coarse sugar. The dose is half an English pint every morning. It may be continued for eight or nine days.

      I HAVE likewise known Harrowgate sulphur-water cure a jaundice of very long standing. it should be used for some weeks, and the patient must both drink and bathe.

      THE soluble tartar is a very proper medicine in the jaundice. A drachm of it may be taken every night and morning in a cup of tea or water-gruel. If it does not open the body, the dose may be increased. A very obstinate jaundice has been cured by swallowing raw eggs.

      PERSONS subject to the jaundice ought to take as much exercise as possible, and to avoid all heating and astringent aliments.

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