The principles of the chrono-thermal system of medicine, with the fallacies of the faculty / by Samuel Dickson.

Date:
1861
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The principles of the chrono-thermal system of medicine, with the fallacies of the faculty / by Samuel Dickson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    of disorder — pneumonia and apoplexy- included. Holding Remission to be the most unfailing clue to all good medical treatment, Dr. Dickson addressed himself to the prevention of paroxysmal return, and adopted for his motto ' 'pnncipiis ohsta.' ' JPrincipiis ohsta—on the outset act And crusli disease at once by skill and taot; Crush it ere from neglect the frequent fit Becomes a habit difficult to hit.' For the last twenty-four years, in various publications, all powerfully and perspicuously written. Dr. Dickson has never ceased to urge the total and entire abohtion of blood-letting in each and eveiy of its forms,—giving quinine, steel, and stimulants, in cases where for thirty- centuries the great majority of the profes- sion advocated exhaustive measures. For this innovation he has had to pay the penalty of all truly great reformers, persecution and injustice! The illustrious Harvey, to the perpetuation of whose fame your oration is dedicated, and Jenner, scarcely less dear to medicine, were both, as we all know, decried and oppressed in their life-time by their professional brethren. With these examples before me, I cannot doubt that so great a Benefactor to man- kind as the Author of The Fallacies of the Faculty, -will, ere long, like these dis- coverers, be appreciated as he deserves by the distinguished body of which yourself and I have the honour to be Fellows. In the interest of science, and on public grounds, I propose to print this letter,—for the length of which'allow me to apologise. Your oration being now published, I do not anticipate any objec- tion on your part to the course I mean to pursue. Believe me to remain, yours, my dear Sir, very truly, Thomas Heberden. Dr. Page, F.R.C.P. Dr. Heberden is right in his facts. All honour to him for his bravery and inde- pendence. It was as he says. In 1836, Dr. Dickson published the Fallacy of Physic as taught in the Schools, with new and impooiant Principles of Practice. What were the new and important principles developed in this work? Pre- cisely what Dr. Heberden states—The Unity, Remittency, and Periodicity of all Disease ;—whereof Intermittent Fever or Ague was shown to be in aU climes and during all seasons the model or type. Upon the successful treatment of that type—that unchangeable type or model of all disease—by bark, steel, stimulants, and attention to temperature, Dr. Dickson based his treatment of all disorders. For all disorders he prescribed bark (in the form of quinine), iron, and febrifuges generally,—including, of course, cold and hot ablution, and other thermal applica- tions. For each and all, — apoplexy, paralysis, and pneumonia not excepted,— he moreover advocated the judicious use of -wine, brandy, &c., in opposition to the antiphlogistic fallacies then and for centu- ries taught in every school and university of Europe, as indisputable truths ! In 1838, Dr. Dickson again published his revolutionary -^iews, under the unmis- takable title of the Unity of Disease. And yet again in 1839, when, having delivered a course of Lectures on the same subject in the Egyptian Hall, Picca- dilly, he reproduced them under the title of The Fallacies of the Faculty, \vith the Chrono-thermal System of Medicine. This last-mentioned work, after passing through many English editions, has been translated on the Continent and re- printed in America, times -without number. Reader, we are now dealing with facts and dates; be pleased carefiiUy to note what was the hospital treatment pm-sued by the most eminent London physicians when Dr. Dickson first printed his Views m 1836.