The works of William Cullen : containing his physiology, nosology, and first lines of the practice of physic; with numerous extracts from his manuscript papers, and from his treatise of the materia medica / Edited by John Thomson.

  • Thomson, John, 1765-1846.
Date:
1827
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The works of William Cullen : containing his physiology, nosology, and first lines of the practice of physic; with numerous extracts from his manuscript papers, and from his treatise of the materia medica / Edited by John Thomson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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

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    plied to the body—is always attended with a hardness of the pulse—and is most effectually taken off by the relaxing power of blood-letting. From these circumstances, it seems probable, that the diathesis phlogistica consists in an increased tone, or contractility, and perhaps in an increased contraction of the muscular fibres of the whole arterial system. Such a state of the system seems often to arise, and subsist for some time, without the apparent inflammation of any particlar part ; but such a state of the system renders it likely that a spasm may, at the same time, readily arise in any of the extreme vessels, and a particular inflammation be there produced. It does, however, appear also that the general diathesis frequently arises from inflammation begun in a particular part. “ Phlegmasiae and fevers essentially differ in this, that the one is necessarily, and the other only accidentally and more rarely accompanied with the phlogistic diathesis in the whole system: further, that in the phlegmasiae it is not preceded by the symptoms of debility as in fevers, nor is it ever accompanied with the tendency to putrefaction so common in fevers ; it is more pure and simple, and does not, as far as we can perceive, depend upon any foreign matter introduced, nor does it afford any contagion. From the general character of the year or sea- son, these diseases may be supposed to be epidemic, but they are never contagious, and for the most part may be considered as constantly sporadic.” CCXLVIII. I have thus endeavoured, in the case of inflam- mation, to explain the state of the whole system as well as that of the part more particularly affected. The latter I have con- sidered as when in its first formation ; but after it has subsisted for some time, various changes take place in the part affected ; and of these I must now take notice. SECT. III.—OF THE TERMINATIONS OF INFLAMMATION. CCXLIX. If an inflammation be cured while the state and texture of the part remain entire, the disease is said to be ter- minated by Resolution. This happens when the previous congestion and spasm have been in a moderate degree, and the increased impetus of he