A new theory of acute and slow continu'd fevers : wherein, besides the appearances of such, and the manner of their cure, occasionally, the structure of the glands, and the manner and laws of secretion, the operation of purgative, vomitive, and mercurial medicines, are mechanically explained. To which is prefixed, An essay concerning the improvements of the theory of medicine.

  • Cheyne, George, 1671 or 1672-1743.
Date:
1744
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A new theory of acute and slow continu'd fevers : wherein, besides the appearances of such, and the manner of their cure, occasionally, the structure of the glands, and the manner and laws of secretion, the operation of purgative, vomitive, and mercurial medicines, are mechanically explained. To which is prefixed, An essay concerning the improvements of the theory of medicine. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    16/162 (page 8)
    gruities, and Incongruities, &c. would they, nill’d they ; not confidering that the firft of thefe is a mere Metaphor, i.e. in the prefent Cafe, Words without a diftindt Meaning ; and that the fecond is plain Non fen fe, unlefs thefe things naturally follow from the determined Laws of Motion ; and, in a word, that all Natural Philofophy, unlefs fupported by Geo¬ metry, is but a pleafant Romance. The Chemical Pbyficians were yet more wild to introduce their Laboratories into the Bodies of Animals; and to expedt the fame Effedts from our Veflels, as from their Retorts. Some of them have refolved the Caufes of all Difeafes into Acids, and therefore they muft be cured by Alcalious Remedies: Others, by an oppohte Extream, have refolved Difeafes into thefe, and therefore they muft be cured by thofe. They have made a great Noife with their Fermentations, Effervefcences, and the like; while, in the mean time, we are certain, that neither the one nor the other is in the right, and that the Heat of our Bodies is no ways able to produce the fame Effedt with theirFurnaces; neither are we able to mix three or four different Liquors in a line Glafs Tube, much lels can we expect fuch Effedts, as they afcribe to their Fermentations, from the much more fender Canals of animal Bo¬ dies. 1 fhall not offer at a formal Confutation of thefe different iEtiologifts; the Matter has been