The vitality of the blood : proved by physiological experiment, and its application to veterinary pathology demonstrated / by J.S. Gamgee.

  • Gamgee, Sampson, 1828-1886.
Date:
[1849?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The vitality of the blood : proved by physiological experiment, and its application to veterinary pathology demonstrated / by J.S. Gamgee. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    blood, without demonstrating the nature of such perversion, or the mode of counteracting it. We have already alluded to the fact, that on the quality and quantity of the blood the animal organism depends for its main- tenance in health ; it is, therefore of the greatest importance to afford the necessary conditions for the blood's elaboration and support, in order that, while animals advance in health and per- fection adequate to the services required from them, those diseases may be averted which depend upon excess, defect, or perversion of any of the constituents of this fluid. For this purpose, not only must the atmosphere be pure from the deteriorating effects of respiration and ammoniacal exhalations, but such food must be supplied as will afford the greatest quantity of nitrogenized prin- ciples, whence pure blood for the composition of the tissues mav be elaborated ; and the least of those materials, which from their physical or chemical properties, may deteriorate the quality of the vital fluid; and here is a topic of high importance to the veteri- nary surgeon, not only as a mitigator of disease, but as a scientific economist in busy towns or agrarian districts. It is futile to say that the veterinary surgeon does not require a profound knowledge of agricultural botany, of the precise quan- tity of animal food which various plants supply, and of the pro- perties of the soil whence they are produced ; that to him, hygiene, agricultural chemistry, and the fundamental principles of rural economy are superfluous. Should some one assert that the pur- suit of these studies would be lowering the grade of the vocation of the veterinarian, I would reply, as his aim and object is that of curing disease, will it not be one great step obtained to prevent it} And as it is the duty of the veterinary surgeon to diagnose and to treat disease, will he not be more likely to succeed in his endeavours if he can strike at the root of the malady by removing its cause, and aid in repairing the losses, not only of the tissues but also of the blood, which is so frequently the original seat of diseaseAnd if it be the veterinary surgeon's desire to fill an honourable station in the scientific world, and to be acknowledged as a useful member of society, will he not enhance the fulfilment of that noble endeavour by adding to his achievements as the for- tunate conqueror of maladies, his conscientious claim as the safe adviser of means to avert them