Observations on the utility and administration of purgative medicines in several diseases / by James Hamilton.

  • Hamilton, James, 1749-1835.
Date:
1829
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the utility and administration of purgative medicines in several diseases / by James Hamilton. 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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    OBSERVATIONS ON THE UTILITY AND ADMINISTRATION OF PURGATIVE MEDICINES. CHAP. I. OBSERVATIONS ON IMPEDIMENTS TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF MEDICINE. PHYSICIANS are guided in their more early pro- fessional pursuits, by the doctrines which they have imbibed in the schools, by the sentiments of authors whom they have chiefly consulted, and by the exam- ple of those whose practice they have purposed to follow. Subsequent information, however, derived from new discoveries and from personal intercourse with the sick, inclines them not unfrequently to make some changes, sooner or later, in those speculative opinions, and in that course of practice, which they may have at first adopted. It has been remarked, on this account, that medi- cine is fluctuating and uncertain, but, in my opinion, with no good reason. The innovations which are in- troduced are unavoidable; they result from the situ- ation in which practitioners are placed ; and indicate neither want of steadiness on their part, nor of cer- tainty in the profession. They always tend to im- C