Remarks, preliminary to the exhibition of Dr. Phelps' practically established Arcanum.

Date:
[1828?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks, preliminary to the exhibition of Dr. Phelps' practically established Arcanum. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    wonders of the mighty (loop, the hidden treasures and usoful production! of the earth, have les3 exalted views of the glory and dignity of his Maker? The study of natural and revealed philosophy enlarges our conceptions of the glory and dignity of the Deity, and represses superstition and ignorance. Why are we less addicted to these evils and absurdities now, hut because we are hotter instructed in philosophy than our progeni- turs? So, the more resplendent our minds are with knowledge, the less liable are we to the intrusion of idle dreams and visionary horrors. Suffer me to ask you, if you would confide yourself, your offspring, or your fortune, to an ignorant and inexpe- i pilot, on the merciless billows of a stormy and unknown ocean? I answer, you would not!....But, if embarked with the experienced and intelligent navigator, whose course is safely directed over the rnountuin wave by his intimate knowledge of |jie unerring beacons of the heavens, then, should angry tempests assail you, and the foaming billows of the deep rage, with all their fury, against the bark, who can doubt the mariner's skill ?—Need I ask you, then, if you arc willing to place your life, or the lives of your family, in the hands of ignorant pretenders to medicine? I will now attempt to give the reader some information with regard to the various sympathies, in diseases of the human body, the Modus Operandi and Physiology of Di- gestion ; together witli a succinct history, as well as the symptoms, of a few of the most prominent diseases, immediately connected with my object, as collected from observa- tion, and the best medical authorities. OF SYMPATHY. All the body is sympathetically connected together, and dependant the one part upon the rest, constituting a general sympathy. But, sometimes, we find particular parts more intimately dependant upon each other, than upon the rest of the body, constitu- ting a particular sympathy. Action cannot be greatly increased, in any one organ, without being diminished in soma other ; but certain parts are more apt to be affect- ed by the derangement of particular organs than others ; and it was the observance of this fact, which gave foundation to the old and well-known doctrine of sympathy, which was said to proceed, turn ob communiunem et simililudinem generis, turn oa mciniam. It may be thought, that this position of action, being diminished, in ono organ, by its increase, either in the rest, or in some other part, is contradicted by the existence of general diseases, or actions, affecting the whole system. But in thera wo find, in the first place, that there is always some part more affected than the rest. This local affection is sometimes the first symptom, and affects the constitution in a secondary way, either by the irritation it produces, or by an extension of the specifio action. At other times, the local affection is coeval with the general disease, and is called sympathetic. It is observed, in the second place, that, as there is some part which is always more affected than the rest, so, also, is there some organ which has its action, in consequence of this, diminished lower than that of the rest of the system, and most commonly lower than its natural standard. From the extensive sympathy of the stomach with almost every part of the body, we find that this most frequently suf- fers, and has its action diminished in every disease, whether general or local, provided that the diseased action arises to any considerable degree. There are also other organs, which may, in like manner, 6uffer, from their associa- tion or connexion with others, which become diseased. Sympathy is divided into, first, the sympathy of equilibrium, in which one part is weakened by the increased action of another ; and, secondly, the sympathy of associa- tion, in which two parts act together at the same time. The sympathy of association is produced suddenly, and for a short time. The sympathy of equilibrium is produced more slowly, and continues to operate for a much longer time. The liver and stomach are intimately connected with each other. When the liver is inflamed, or lias its ac- tion increased, the stomach is weakened, and dyspeptic symptoms take place. When the stomach is weakened, as, for instance, by intoxication, then the action of the liver is increased, and a greater quantity than usual of bile is secreted. The sarna takes place in warm climates where the stomach is much debilitated. If the liver has its action thus frequently increased, it assumes a species of inflammation, or becomes, II it is called, scirrhous. This is exemplified in the habitual dram-drinkers, and in those who stay long in warm countries, and use freedoms with the stomach. The liver likewise sympathizes with the brain; for when this organ is injured, and its action much impaired, as in compression, inflammation and suppuration have been often known to take place in the liver. Besides the connexion of the stomach with the liver, it is also very intimately dependant on the brain, being weakened when the ac- tion of the brain is increased ; as we see in an inflammation of that organ. The brain again is affected with pain when the stomach is weakened by intoxication, or other causes; and this pain will ho often relieved by slowly renewing the action of the stomach, by such stimuli as are natural to it. A slight increase of action in the stomach, at least, if not of a morbid kind, affects the brain so as to produce sleep, diminishing its action.