On the theory of vital force, or, The true basis of medical science / by E. Haughton.

  • Haughton, E.
Date:
1862
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the theory of vital force, or, The true basis of medical science / by E. Haughton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    15/36 (page 13)
    subsequent depression. There would be no injury inflicted upon the system by any amount of wear and tear, if it followed the natural law of equable distribution and rapid renewal. But how different is the effect of natural efforts, and tlie unequal drain produced by the partial operation of stimulants acting solely or chiefly upon the nervous system. The most active assimilation cannot supply such highly elaborated tissue as fast as it is required; and the body becomes prema¬ turely worn out, before half of its powers have been called into operation. Nature has given us no faculty which she did not intend us to use, and it therefore follows, on the above prin¬ ciple, that a certain amount of bodily labour is essential to a healthy condition of the mind and the organ through which its operations are con¬ ducted. It will be seen from the preceding observations that the notion of every Inan becoming his own doctor is quite ridiculous ; and that no one knows how to use any remedy whatever until he first makes himself acquainted with the laws of that body to which it is to be applied. Every remedy is capable of application in some case or other, and is therefore good in itself; but no remedy is good unless prescribed in accordance with the actual condition of the patient. No prescription