Genealogy Chat

Hello, I am hoping that someone can advise me of a website which lists old fashioned remedies given to patients 1900 era. I have googled but cannot find anything that explains to me why my g-grandfather was given strychnine and digitalin when he was diagnosed with Traumatic Septic Arthritis - Septicaemia by the hospital. Would appreciate if someone can point me in the right direction. Bye Helen

strychnine was often used as a TONIC, more than as a curative medicine - according to Google: dig·i·tal·in (dj-tln, -tln) n. A mixture of glycosides obtained from the leaves and seeds of the common foxglove and used as a cardiotonic. strych·nine (strknn, -nn, -nn) n. An extremely poisonous white crystalline alkaloid used as a poison for rodents and formerly used topically as a central nervous system stimulant.

Thanks Jess, I always thought Strychnine was used as a poison, googling revealed it is an alkaloid plant toxin formally used as a stimulant of the central nervous system. Digitalin apparently is a powerful cardiac stimulant. I know that some wierd remedies were used back then, but I am still puzzled as to why the doctors would have prescribed either. Hopefully I will find out why. Helen

In the past fox glove has been used to murder people.

Certain medical conditions including heart disease, liver disease and kidney disease ......etc. increase the risk of developing septicaemia. It is likely then that he had a heart condition for which he was being prescribed the digitalis and strychnine and not for the septicaemia which was a complication of his heart desease. Kat

Thank you everyone for your input, my g-grandfather was only 27 years old when he died in hospital of septicaemia as a result of a fall. I recently obtained copies of his hospital case study notes which stated he was given the strychnine and digitalin on the third day when he apparently started vomitting. He died the following morning. As I said before, the information on the two administered drugs I obtained by googling, my question is why were they were administered? Seems a little strange ? or maybe I am just being a little over zealous. Helen

Don't forget that pre 1940 and the advent of penicillin as a wonder drug, most medications were hand prepared, using basic ingredients. Many of the ingredients were also used as poisons - arsenic and bella donna (from deadly nightshade) being another 2. My Dad was in the RAMC in WW2 and had a notebook, which contained a load of recipes for making medicines and ointments. I also have a 1892 medical dictionary and some of the curative potions given sound quite horrific, as do the diagnoses! Arsenic, bella donna and other poisons feature quite prominently Jay

Our neighbour was in intensive care for 11 weeks after developing septicaemia after a fall in the garden in which he suffered a minor graze to his leg. The first symptoms were flu-like and that was what he was treated for. Amongst other things this caused him heart problems and he was given drugs to stabilize his heart. By the time the cause of his illness was properly diagnosed they said he wouldn't live, even with the powerful antibiotic drugs available. They considered amputation of the leg, but the condition was too far gone for that. In the end they removed a lot of decaying tissue from his leg and waited for him to die.....but with the wonder of modern science he pulled through. The Dr said it was a miracle! Before antibiotics septicaemia was a killer. Anything they gave your ancestor was probably just going through the motions as they probably knew he couldn't survive :o(( Merry

Thanks everyone, at least I have a better appreciation as to why they may have given him these drugs. The hospital case notes stated that even when he fell on his left leg, and the pain and swelling was so great, he was not admitted to the hospital for five days. All I can say is thank goodness I was born in the 20th century. Helen