Hysteria : the history of a disease / by Ilza Veith.

  • Veith, Ilza.
Date:
1970, ©1965
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hysteria : the history of a disease / by Ilza Veith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ment of disease than those which refer so large a proportion of disease to what it termed inflammation and its supposed consequences. It is a prevailing error among the unthinking members of our profession which refers all examples of redness of vessels to inflammation. No term can be more inappropri- ate. The ancient definition of inflammation is founded on truth, and will hold true to the end of time ; but it is ren- dered absurd by the practice of the modern school. In the too frequent employment of the name we forget the con- ditions essential to it. The arterial and capillary systems perform their healthy functions so long only as they retain the normal influence of the nerves supplying them, whether locally or generally. If the supply of nervous influence fails, the capillary system of a part loses its healthy tone, and the vessels locally dilate. At the same time they lose the power of propulsion, and there Arises of necessity a local remora or arrest of the circulation, and, as a matter of course, the part becomes red. In this inflammation ? Yes, in the judgment of many, it is termed a form or variety of inflammation, not strict or positive, but inflammation of an asthenic type, although it fails in three of the four conditions essential to true inflammation, and exhibits redness only, wanting pain, heat, and swelling. Now these examples of local congestion or plethora of vessels are yet in the present day confounded with true in- flammation, and are treated by what we term antiphlogistic agents—namely, general and local bleeding, purgatives, dia- phoretics, and the suspension of food. True inflammation is not so commonly seen as you may imagine; and inasmuch