Observations on the injurious tendency of extreme depletion in inflammatory disorders : with remarks on the remedial agency of the vapour bath in acute and chronic diseases : illustrated by cases / by Edward Daniell, surgeon.

  • Daniell, Edward, 1795-1865.
Date:
1833
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the injurious tendency of extreme depletion in inflammatory disorders : with remarks on the remedial agency of the vapour bath in acute and chronic diseases : illustrated by cases / by Edward Daniell, surgeon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    introduction of poisonous compounds, and by oppressive loads of aliment, it is no wonder that its function becomes impeded, paralyzed, and partially destroyed. Mankind, not contented with furnishing the demands of nature with sim- ple materials for the supply and reparation of the wastes of the system, are perpetually consulting the depraved tastes which luxury and civilization have produced, for such ali- ments or compounds as gratify artificial desires, paying, at the same time, but little attention to the condition of those organs whose offices are to render the aliments thus poured into the stomach fit for the important business of supporting and sustaining the functions of life. The real wants of nature are exceedingly small—whole- some and proper food, sufficiently impregnated with nutriti- ous elements, is all that is strictly required for the purposes of life. Hence it is that such persons are most healthy whose habits are simple, whose tastes are unrefined, and who merely attend to the plain demands of hunger and thirst, and are satisfied when these demands are fulfilled; but the introduction of luxurious habits has become so exceedingly general, and artificial desires are now so universally culti- vated, that but few can be found willing to pursue the simple dictates of nature, nor willing to be themselves satisfied when nature is content. The consequence of this depraved condition is, that few individuals can be met with who are not the victims of deranged digestive organs, and who are not suffering the penalty of indiscretion. The constant habit of stimulation is to harden, or, rather, render insensible, the nervous textures of the body; thus, when an individual first addicts himself to intemperance, he feels but a very slight quantity of intoxicating beverage sufficient to produce nervous excitation, but, by persisting in