PULMONARY DISEASES.—It iS ill dis eases of the respiratory tract that the remedy has gained greatest repute in late years. Inasmuch as it is eliminated by the bronchial mucous membrane, which it stimulates, it is an expectorant of great value, especially so if there be any fwtor of the secretion. In full doses it is the most valuable of all remedies in chronic basilar cavities. It is strongly recommended in pulmonary, laryngeal, and abdominal tuberculosis, and there is little doubt that it is one of the best agents yet introduced for the treatment of ordinary phthisis and of bronchi ectasis, bronchorrhcea, broncho-pneu monia, and some forms of bronchitis. The greatest drawback to the use of the drug is the inability of many patients to take it in doses sufficient, either as to amount or to their continuance, to be of benefit. The different modes of adminis tration that have been advocated, except that by the mouth, are all objectionable; the rectum is even more intolerant than the stomach, and after a few days the patient loses control of the bowel and is frequently attacked by colic and diar rhcea. With subcutaneous injections, the risk is run of inducing gangrene or ab scess, and the pain is not alone consid erable, but often excruciating. Injection into the trachea, which has been sug gested, has not as yet been sufficiently tried to warrant more than a mention. The subject will be taken up exhaustively when the various forms of pulmonary phthisis are studied.
Intratracheal injections of creasoted oil (I to 20) Etre admirably borne by the majority; 30 minims may be employed twice daily. No complications are pro voked, and the patients never had hEemoptysis, fever, stitch in side, or di gestive trouble. Experiments showed that the oil reached the alveoli, and stayed there fifteen days. The injections should be practiced during many months, and it is necessary to auscultate the patients frequently and make them take a posi tion that will allow the oil to penetrate to the diseased portions of the lungs; it is often possible to determine whether the oil has reached the part by the pro duction of bubbling rflles. Under this
treatment the majority of eases improve, appetite retur»s, weight is increased, and expectoration is diminished; but it is those in the first or second stage of tuberculosis who are most benefited. Dor (Rev. de Med., Feb., '90).
In the treatment of phthisis creasote may be said to have superseded all other remedies. When -used in the earlier stages of the disease, along with other measures, out-of-door life, proper food, etc., it is undoubtedly able to afford cures.
Of 93 phthisical patients treated by creasote 54 were benefited and 25 ap parently cured. Bouchard (Archly. Clin. de Bordeaux, Mar., '89).
By the hypodermic use of a 10-per cent. solution of ereasote in oil of MCC{ :Almonds, making the injection into the cellular tissue of the external iliac fossa, the medicament can be introduced into the circulation without any derangement of digestion. At least two injections, each of 75 minims of the solution, should be given daily. Perron (Gaz. IIeb. des Scien. May 25, '90).
Subcutaneous injections of creasoted oil gives excellent results in the treat ment of all wasting diseases, pulinonary or otherwise. The injections are followed by local and general effects, but never of serious nature; absorption is more or less rapid, ancl no abscess produced. The best results are had in apyretic phthisis, with or without abundant expectoration. Guerder (Jour. de MM., May 3, '91).
Creasote diminishes expectoration, les sening its purulency and the tendency to luemorrhage. Burney Yeo ("Man. Prae. Treat.," vol. ii, '92).
In a series of one hundred cases it was noted that its chief action was to lessen cough and expectoration, without influ encing the progress of the disease. Osier ("Prae. of Med.," '92).
It certainly exerts a curative influ ence on the tubercular lesion and, be sides lessening expectoration, puruleney, and the tendency to night-sweats, it seems to diminish the number of tuber cular bacilli. Jaccoud (Bull. Gat. de Then, '92).