Abstract
The disease known as whooping cough has been described under a multiplicity of names. Willis (1622-1675) named it "tussis convulsiva," while Sydenham (1624-1689) called it "pertussis," which means a violent cough of any kind. There are other Latin names, the most striking among them being "quinta," "paroxysmes quintes" and "quintana." It is possible that these came to be used because the cough was observed to return every five hours. Other countries have their own descriptive terms. Besides the familiar name "whooping cough" we have in English "hooping cough," "kick cough," "kink cough," or simply "the kink," and the frequently used expression "chin cough." In Austria the disease is spoken of colloquially as "<i>Stickhusten</i>" (stick cough) or "<i>Krampfhusten</i>" (cramp cough). In Bavaria pertussis is called "<i>Blauhusten</i>" (blue cough). Whooping cough cannot be definitely traced back further than the middle of the sixteenth century. It seems certain that Galen knew nothing of
Highlights
The various methods of treatment for this very common and, in one sense, most fatal complaint are well worth consideration and comparison
We may either seek for a specific remedy, which in very few diseases is discoverable, while our knowledge of the causes is imperfect; or we may aid nature by putting the patient in the most favourable conditions for resisting; or we may place him under favourable conditions and utilise remedies which have a known therapeutic value for complications
The empirical search for a specific remedy while we know nothing of the cause of the disease, and again the difficulty of distinguishing the effect of drugs in such a variable malady are at the root of much of this waste of time
Summary
The various methods of treatment for this very common and, in one sense, most fatal complaint are well worth consideration and comparison. We may either seek for a specific remedy, which in very few diseases is discoverable, while our knowledge of the causes is imperfect; or we may aid nature by putting the patient in the most favourable conditions for resisting; or we may place him under favourable conditions and utilise remedies which have a known therapeutic value for complications.
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Published Version
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