Medical and physiological problems, being chiefly researches for correct principles of treatment in disputed points of medical practice / by William Griffin and by Daniel Griffin.

Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical and physiological problems, being chiefly researches for correct principles of treatment in disputed points of medical practice / by William Griffin and by Daniel Griffin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

    41/266 (page 35)
    PROBLEM II. BY WILLIAM GRIFFIN, M. D. HOW ARE NERVOUS AFFECTIONS DISTINGUISHABLE FROM INFLAMMATORY. In treating of inflammation of the bowels and peritoneum, Dr. Abercrombie states as conclusions from facts, “ that extensive and highly dangerous inflammation may exist in the intestinal canal without obstruction of the bowels, and it may go on to a fatal termination while these are in a natural state or easily re- gulated by mild medicines through the whole course of the disease.” “ That extensive and fatal inflammation may be going on with every variety in the pulse; it may be frequent and small, it may be frequent and full, or it may be little above the natural stand- ard through the whole course of the disease,” “ That extensive inflammation may go on without vomiting and without constant pain; the pain often occurring in paroxysms, and leaving long intervals of comparative ease.” “ Keeping in view these sources of uncertainty,” he says, “ our chief reliance for the diagnosis of this important class of diseases niust be on the tenderness of the abdomen. This symptom should be always watched with the most anxious care, whatever be the slate of the bowels or of the pulse, or the actual com- plaint of pain, and though the tenderness itself should bo limited to a defined space of no great extent.” Whatever the experience of the profession may Iiave deter- mined with respect to the greater part of these conclusions be- fore the appearance of Dr. Aliercrombie’s work, I believe the importance which sliould be attached to the presence or