The hospitals / [W.I. Bicknell].

  • Bicknell, W. I
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The hospitals / [W.I. Bicknell]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    disorders, it is remarked, run on to a certain number of days, as the seventh, ninth, twenty-first, &c., and bring with them almost certain results, unless anticipated and checked by the experienced practitioner. The maxims of Hippocrates, for the preservation or restoration of health, are likewise most excellent; being scarcely inferior to those of Sydenham and Cheyne, the founders of our improved practice. “ To preserve health,” says Hippocrates, we ought not to overcharge ourselves with too much eating, or neglect the use of exercise and labour.” He recommends suitable, but not fastidious attention to the qualities of what we eat and drink. He further advises, that wine should be mixed with water. He insists also upon the necessity of good air, and moderation in the passions. His remedies were diluent drinks, active pur- gatives or vomits, especially the latter; with ablutions, fomentations, clysters, and venesection. Upon the practice of Praxagoras, Erasistratus, Heraphilus, Serapion, Asclepiades, Themison, Thessaliis, and other dis- tinguished successors of Hippocrates, oiir limits forbid us to enter. Of Celsus, who flourished about the beginning of the Christian era, a word or two will suffice. His work on medicine is the most valuable of ail the ancients, the writings of Hippocrates, perhaps, only excepted. He has been de- signated the Latin Hippocrates, Columella calls him “ the most famous author of his times;”and Fabricius tells bis pupils, that he is, in all respects, to be admired, and that his writings should be in their hands night and day.” The work is comprised in eight books, the first four, after a brief history of medicincj treating of internal diseases, and the fifth and sixth books, on those which are external, together with a general formulary of medi- cines, suitable to both kinds of disorders. The two concluding