Corrosive poisons affect the nerves by a violentrevulsive action; and are not to be considered in the same category as medicines.
This revulsive action, when carried to an extreme, so powerfully impresses the nervous system, that it puts a stop to all other actions, and produces Syncope or Death.
Its efficacy depends upon the revulsive effect which follows a local destruction of tissue.
To attain this end, the antiphlogistic and revulsive plans, graduated to the age and strength of the patient, and to the violence of the disease are recommended.
These spinal pains are always aggravated by pressure made on either side of the spinous processes of the vertebræ, and, like the cephalic pains, are more or less mitigated by revulsive applications.
The effect of an emetic in abridging a chill by revulsive action are uncertain, and I avoid resorting to them for this purpose alone in simple intermittents.
Leeches have been applied to the parts mentioned, and over the mastoid processes have sometimes been used with advantage, but their depletory surpasses their revulsive action, and is, so far, injurious.
Celsus then speaks of a revulsive adopted, in his times, against odontalgia.
In cupping for revulsive purposes, one cupped on a distant part to relieve excess of blood in the affected part.
Only with the gradual awareness of the implications of the circulation of the blood (discovered in 1628) did discussion of the distinction between derivative and revulsive bloodletting become passe.
Thus this treatment, by its revulsive effects, is capable of relieving various disorders of the head, chest, digestive organs, and pelvis.
