6. Quinsy
takes place when a copious and viscid defluxion from the head, in the season of
winter or spring, flows into the jugular veins, and when from their large size
they attract a greater defluxion; and when owing to the defluxion being of a
cold and viscid nature it becomes enfarcted, obstructing the passages of the
respiration and of the blood, coagulates the surrounding blood, and renders it
motionless and stationary, it being naturally cold and disposed to
obstructions. Hence they are seized with convulsive suffocation, the tongue
turning livid, assuming a rounded shape, and being vent owing to the veins
which are seated below the tongue (for when an enlarged uvula, which is called
uva, is cut, a large vein may be observed on each side). These veins, then,
becoming filled, and their roots extending into the tongue, which is of a loose
and spongy texture, it, owing to its dryness receiving forcibly the juice from
the veins, changes from broad and becomes round, its natural color turns to
livid, from a soft consistence it grows hard, instead of being flexible it
becomes inflexible, so that the patient would soon be suffocated unless
speedily relieved. Bleeding, then, in the arm, and opening the sublingual
veins, and purging with the electuaries, and giving warm gargles, and shaving
the head, we must apply to it and the neck a cerate, and wrap them round with
wool, and foment with soft sponges squeezed out of hot water; give to drink
water and hydromel, not cold; and administer the juice of ptisan when, having
passed the crisis, the patient is out of danger. When, in the season of summer
or autumn, there is a hot and nitrous defluxion from the head (it is rendered
hot and acrid by the season), being of such a nature it corrodes and ulcerates,
and fills with air, and orthopnoea attended with great dryness supervenes; the
fauces, when examined, do not seem swollen; the tendons on the back part of the
neck are contracted, and have the appearance as if it were tetanus; the voice
is lost, the breathing is small, and inspiration becomes frequent and laborious.
In such persons the trachea becomes ulcerated, and the lungs engorged, from the
patient’s not being able to draw in the external air. In such cases, unless
there be a spontaneous determination to the external parts of the neck, the
symptoms become still more dreadful, and the danger more imminent, partly owing
to the season, and the hot and acrid humors which cause the disease.
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