QUINSY INFLAMMATORY SORE THROAT, OR TONSILLITIS. 465 



coughing, swallowing, or clearing his throat. The matter discharged has usually a 

 fetid odour, and a disagreeable taste. Sometimes this circumstance alone indicates 

 to the patient what has happened, for the quantity of matter may be so small as 

 readily to escape notice. The relief which ensues on the bursting of the abscess is 

 very striking. The pain almost at once subsides, and the difficulty in swallowing is 

 in a great measure removed. Although both tonsils may be affected, usually matter 

 forms in only one of them. 



Quinsy is a very disagreeable complaint, but fortunately it is attended with 

 little or no danger. Common as it is, death from this cause is almost unknown. 

 The duration of an attack is usually some five or six days, but occasionally it will 

 keep the patient in bed, or at all events in the house, for ten days or longer. 



Next, as to the treatment of quinsy, the remedy par excellence is aconite. It 

 should be given in half-drop or drop doses of the tincture in a little water every ten 

 minutes or quarter of an hour for two hours, and afterwards hourly. If there is 

 much prostration, with weak and feeble pulse, a smaller dose should be given. The 

 medicine may be conveniently administered in the form of the "aconite mixture 

 {Pr. 38), every tea-spoonful of which is equivalent to about a drop of the tincture. 

 Aconite, if given in the early stages of quinsy, acts like a charm. The dry, hot, 

 burning skin becomes in a few hours comfortably moist, and in a little while longer 

 is bathed in a profuse perspiration, the sweat not uncommonly standing on the face 

 and chest in large drops. With the sweating comes speedy relief from many of the 

 most distressing sensations, as restlessness, chilliness, heat and dryness of the skin, 

 aching pains and stiffness. At the same time the quickened pulse becomes far less 

 frequent, and in a period varying from twenty-four to forty-eight hours both pulse 

 and temperature regain their natural state. If caught at the commencement, 

 a quinsy or acute sore throat seldom fails to quickly yield to this treatment. The 

 sweating may continue for a few days after the decline of the fever. If administered 

 sufficiently early, the beneficial effects on the local symptoms are very striking. 

 The large, livid, red-glazed, dry tonsils within twenty-four hours present an appear- 

 ance indicating that the acute stage of inflammation has subsided. Just at this 

 point a strong astringent, such as glycerine of tannin, applied well to the inside of 

 the throat by means of a brush, will quickly remove most of the remaining unhealthy 

 appearances, and also any pain that may still be lingering. 



There are several different forms of sore throat, but it is only in those cases in 

 which the patient is feverish that aconite does good. In the ordinary relaxed sore 

 throat its administration is useless. Directly you get a sore throat, pull out your 

 thermometer and take your temperature. If you find it elevated, you know that 

 your remedy is aconite ; if you find that it is normal, you know that aconite will do 

 110 good. In the treatment of inflammation, and more especially of inflammation of 

 the throat, the thermometer and the aconite bottle should go hand in hand. 



Belladonna is a useful remedy in quinsy. It is chiefly indicated when there are 

 bright redness and rawness of the affected parts, with flushed face, glistening of the 

 eyes, headache, and pain and difficulty in swallowing. The tincture of belladonna 

 should be given in the same way and in the same doses as the tincture of aconite. 

 The belladonna mixture may be used (Pr. 39). We prefer, as a rule, not giving this 

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