Medicine a science and an art : a lecture introductory to the course in the Medical Institution of Geneva College / by C. B. Coventry ; delivered March 7th, 1850 ; published by the class.

  • Coventry, C. B. (Charles Brodhead), 1801-1875.
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medicine a science and an art : a lecture introductory to the course in the Medical Institution of Geneva College / by C. B. Coventry ; delivered March 7th, 1850 ; published by the class. 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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    investigation ? We have learned from chemistry the con- stituents of a healthy atmosphere, and the elementary principles of which the body is composed. Physiology teaches us that such an air is essential to life, and that the body has no power of creating new materials, but must be supplied in due proportions with those of which it is composed, or it languishes or dies. We find then that life and health are not matters of chance, but governed by laws as immutable as those which hold the planets in their course. The Professor of Theory and Practice will explain to you that disease and death are produced by a violation of these natural laws, the symptoms of the different diseases, and the mode of interrogating nature for their detection. He will teach you that in the management of disease the first step is to learn the cause, seat, nature, and natural termination. If possible, to remove the cause, and place the patient in the most favorable condition as to air, light, food and drink. Having done this, the next question is whether nature can be further aided in her efforts of res- toration. There may be irritating matters in the stomach or intestines that require to be expelled, or there may be some conditions of the system requiring to be changed by medical agents. Do not, however, indulge the supposi- tion too often entertained by the illiterate, that there is a specific virtue in medicinal agents rendering them antago- nistic of disease. The physician can no more cure dis- ease than the farmer can make his grain or grass to grow; all that he can do is to place his patient in the most favor- able condition for his recovery, trusting to the laws of na- ture for the result. Often medicinal agents may be un- 3