A dialogue between a bilious patient and a physician / by James Henry.

  • Henry, James, 1798-1876.
Date:
1838
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dialogue between a bilious patient and a physician / by James Henry. 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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    both mental and corporeal, which arises from that habitual disorder of the stomach and digestive organs, commonly known by the name of biliousness, can hardly be exaggerated. It is quite sufficient in ordinary cases to make life very uncomfortable; and in extreme cases, like yours, to make it absolutely wretched. But although biliousness, or a disordered state of the sto- mach and bowels, is productive of so much distress, it is by no means incurable; on the contrary, in cases like yours, where the constitution is naturally good, and not impaired by intemperance, it is very easily affected by remedial measures, and in most instances can be entirely cured by them. It is only necessary to take the proper method, and above all things to dis- cover, if possible, the causes which have excited the diseased state, and scrupulously to avoid them in future. Patient. What you say is reasonable, and gives me great encouragement. But you will excuse me, if, having been so frequently disappointed in the pros- pects of recovery held out to me by other physicians, I still feel some degree of doubt, and some want of confidence even in what you say. Physician. It is but natural that you should; I am almost a stranger to you, and cannot expect you to repose any extraordinary confidence in me. Happily however, on the present occasion, no extraordinary con- fidence in your physician is required, as he wishes to address himself to your reason, not to draw upon your credulity, and will not ask you to take a single step, which shall not have been previously approved of by your own understanding. Now show me your tongue. Patient. [Shows his tongue.] It is pretty clean at present, but it was foul and clammy this morning. I crape it every morning when I get up, and then it