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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    TO THE FIRST EDITION. As the doctrine which I maintain, with respect to the exhibition of purgative medicines, may have the appearance of novelty, in order to obviate any preju- dice, it is incumbent on me to state the rise and pro- gress of the opinions which I entertain upon this sub- ject, and to produce the facts on which the practice I recommend is founded. With this view, I hope it will not be thought pre- sumptuous, to give some account of the opportuni- ties which I have enjoyed for collecting accurate and extensive information, in the different diseases of which I treat in the following Observations. I have occupied places of professional trust and re- sponsibility in Edinburgh for upwards of thirty years. During the whole of this period, I have discharged • ae duties of Physician to the Royal Infirmary, to George Heriot's Hospital, and to the Merchants and Trades Hospitals of this city. In the midst of these constant, and sometimes labo- rious occupations, in which I have been engaged, my attention was, many years ago, attracted to the pur- gative effect of medicines given in Typhus fever. The facts which then presented themselves to my notice, induced me to repeat these medicines again and again; till, by slow advances, I at last acquired con- fidence in the practice. Many opportunities have since occurred to me of confirming these observa- tions, which, in my apprehension, clearly establish the