A letter to Erasmus Darwin, M.D. on a new method of treating pulmonary consumption, and some other diseases hitherto found incurable / by Thomas Beddoes, M.D.

  • Beddoes, Thomas, 1760-1808.
Date:
[1793]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A letter to Erasmus Darwin, M.D. on a new method of treating pulmonary consumption, and some other diseases hitherto found incurable / by Thomas Beddoes, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by University of Bristol Library. The original may be consulted at University of Bristol Library.

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    5. It is an opinion entertained by many perfons converfant in the hiftory of medicine, that certain difeafes are now much more pre- valent, and certain others much lefs fo, than formerly: Some indeed, that made great havoc in this ifland centuries ago, have now totally or nearly difappeared. Thefe variations have been imputed, and with great appearance of probability, to the entire change that has taken place during the lapfe of ages in almoft every circumftance of the manner of living. But in many inftances we are not able to fix upon the particular alteration to which the introduction or the extirpation of any given difeafe ig to be afcribed; and ft ill lefs can we precifely deter- mine the effe£t of the alteration upon the func- tions of the living body. If it be true, how- ever, as fo many medical practitioners believe, that Confumption is now much more fre- quent (c), it is eafy according to my fyftem, to underftand whence this has happened. The inhabitants (c) I know fome old practitioners who are perfuaded that Confump- tions have become more frequent within their own memory.