Copy 1, Volume 1

The works of Thomas Sydenham, M.D., on acute and chronic diseases; wherein their histories and modes of cure, as recited by him, are delivered with accuracy and perspicuity to which are subjoined notes, corrective and explanatory, from the most eminent medical writers; adapting the whole to the present improved state of physic, and shewing under what classes, orders, and genera, most of the complaints treated of are arranged by nosologists. With a variety of annotations / by George Wallis.

  • Sydenham, Thomas, 1624-1689.
Date:
1788
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The works of Thomas Sydenham, M.D., on acute and chronic diseases; wherein their histories and modes of cure, as recited by him, are delivered with accuracy and perspicuity to which are subjoined notes, corrective and explanatory, from the most eminent medical writers; adapting the whole to the present improved state of physic, and shewing under what classes, orders, and genera, most of the complaints treated of are arranged by nosologists. With a variety of annotations / by George Wallis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    improving phyfic: depends (1.) upon collecting a genuine and na- tural defcription or hiftory of all difeafes as can be procured ; and (2.) laying down a fixed and complete method of cure. It 1s eafy enough to defcribe dileafes unfkilfully, but to write fuch a full and accurate hiftory of them as to efcape the cenfure that Lord Bacon has paffed upon fome great promifers in another way, is amuch more difficult tafk : ** We are not to learn,” fays the noble author, ** that we have a voluminous <¢ natural biftory, which 1s agreeable to the variety << of its matier, and, by the pains beftowed upon “¢ it, rendered curious and entertaining in many . * The improvement of phyfic, ce. The hiftory of dif- eafes, fays Paglivi, or the medicina prima, ought to be dif- tinguifhed from the curative part, or the medicina fecunda ; the former is a {cience fui generis, and is only to be drawn from the pure and uncorrupted fprings of nature; or, to {peak more properly, depends upon a plain and accurate defcription of diftempers, as they appear in their begin- ning, height, increafe, declenfion, and termination, to the diligent and judicious obferyer. The medicina fecunda, or the curative branch of the art, may, I confefs, be much improved by an application to other fciences, efpecially to thofe that have any relation_to phyfic, or may be confi- dered as branches thereot, among{t which chemiftry, bo- tany, the knowledge of the fix non-naturals, experimental philofophy, anatomy, and the like, may be enumerated, which eminently contribute towards the perfection of the method, and the deriving the curative indications from every the leait circumftance. Baglivi Opera, pag. 14, 15. - Befides thefe things here laid down, I fee no reafon why known caufes are to be neglected; for certainly they will furnifh us with information, fooner than any other means, capable of leading more directly to the mode of cure ; for the -immediate caufe removed, its effect ceafes : nor fhould thofe which are more remote be inattentively paffed by, as from our knowledge jn this point we may very often be empowered to prevent difeafes their natural confequences, “© places ;