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The History of Saline Therapy: How 1831 Changed the Medical World?
Saline, a solution of water and sodium chloride (also known as table salt), has a variety of medical uses, including cleaning wounds, removing and storing contact lenses, and helping relieve constipation. Problems such as dry eyes. This basic solution has been an important tool in the medical field since 1831 and is even listed as one of the essential medicines by the World Health Organization. Over time, the uses and significance of salt water have gradually expanded, making a huge contribution to modern medicine.
In 1831, salt water therapy was first proposed, ushering in a new era in the medical field.
Medical applications and importance
Saline has a wide range of medical uses, including intravenous administration to treat conditions such as dehydration, cleansing wounds, and in ophthalmology and the ear, nose and throat. For example, normal saline (a solution of 0.9% sodium chloride) is often used in intravenous drips to provide the necessary hydration for patients who are unable to take fluids orally, but its limitations have become apparent over the past few decades, especially for patients with more severe For serious and complex situations.
According to the data, sodium chloride was widely used in 2022, being one of the 216th most commonly prescribed drugs, showing its importance in medical treatment. This phenomenon reflects that brine has been recognized and valued not only in theory but also in practical applications.
The use of normal saline is not limited to first aid, but also covers daily care and treatment needs.
Reforms of 1831
In 1831, a cholera epidemic in India first drew attention to the potential therapeutic benefits of sodium chloride solution. William Brooke O'Shaughnessy, a graduate of Edinburgh Medical School, developed a treatment regimen of highly oxidized sodium salt injections to relieve severe dehydration in cholera patients. His proposal received attention from the medical community and was subsequently discussed and applied to the treatment of cholera patients, showing certain efficacy.
The discovery behind the science
While O'Shaughnessy's research paved the way for saline therapy, subsequent scientific research has continued to update our understanding of saline. Over time, the scientific community has conducted many explorations on how to formulate the optimal concentration of brine. In the 1880s, Sydney Ringer discovered the optimal salt concentration required to maintain contraction of frog heart muscle tissue, a discovery that is considered the ancestor of normal saline.
As science continues to advance, the use of salt water becomes more precise and effective.
Challenges in Modern Medicine
While normal saline has been used successfully in many areas, research has found that some conditions may require a more specialized formulation due to its mismatch with real blood composition. For example, a 2018 randomized controlled trial of 15,000 patients in intensive care units showed that those who received lactated Ringer's solution had a significantly lower risk of death or persistent kidney damage than those who received normal saline.
Conclusion: Facing the challenges ahead
By reviewing the history of saline therapy, we can see the medical community's evolving understanding of this basic solution, from its early simple applications to its current multifaceted uses. In the future, with the advancement of science and technology, the role of saline in medicine may face more changes and challenges. In thinking about this historical evolution, we can't help but ask: What new methods will there be in future medical treatment to improve this basic treatment method?
