The principles of the chrono-thermal system of medicine : with the fallacies of the faculty, in a series of lectures / by Samuel Dickson ; containing also an introduction and notes by William Turner.

  • Dickson, Samuel, 1802-1869.
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The principles of the chrono-thermal system of medicine : with the fallacies of the faculty, in a series of lectures / by Samuel Dickson ; containing also an introduction and notes by William Turner. 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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    system of simplicity. So that a complete, highly scientific, and rational doctrine of disease and its treatment is embraced in the small volume which the reader holds in his hands. Some unprofessional readers, in taking up this book, may possibly think, from its subject, that it is a dull, dry, and tedious disquisition upon matters of interest to the medical fraternity alone. This would be a great error. The au- thor has.adapted it to popular use; on which account, he has discarded as much as possible all technical terms. He has also enlivened his production by the introduc- tion of apt facts and incidents, and pertinent arguments and illustrations; so that, instead of being dull, dry, and tedious, the reader will find it eminently sprightly, amusing, and instructive. Scattered throughout the work will be met with, testimony by distinguished Phy- sicians and Surgeons of Great Britain in favour of the system of Dr. Dickson; among the rest, a letter from Sir Astley Cooper, who, on receiving a copy of a previous edi tion, under the title of the Unity of Disease, sent an answer, in which he styled it a valuable work. It will be noticed, too, that the work has been translated into French, German, and Swedish, for the use of the people of those nations. Wm. Turner. New York, 269 Tenth Street. P. S. While this reprint was passing through the press, the April steamer arrived, bringing copies of several new medical works from the London publishers. Among them were two books, fresh from the London press, which, as they are corrobora- tive of the truth of the Chrono-Thermal System, and indicative of the progress that benign and salutary system is making among active and scientific minds hi the Bri- tish metropolis, I have thought it would not be unprofitable to devote a little extra 6pace to their examination. The first, entitled Practical Observations on the Diseases most fatal to Children, is by Mr. Hood. The chief object of this gentleman's work, is to call the attention, not of medical men only, but of all persons who may be interested in the matter, to the investigation of the mode of treatment which may be most appropriate in the more serious diseases of children. The treatment generally adopted, he adds, in most of those diseases where they are severe, and more especially in such of them as affect the organs of respiration, is founded on the opinion, that they either proceed from, or resolve themselves into inflammation; and that this so-called in- flammation, if not properly checked by bleeding and the administration of active antiphlogistic medicines, speedily causes death. Now, he proceeds, without en- tering here into any pathological discussion respecting the symptoms and conse- quences of inflammation, but supposing that it exists, or is to be apprehended in the diseases referred to, it may yet be confidently affirmed, on evidence furnished by the Reports of the Registrar-General, that the mode of treatment above men- tioned is improper. After discussing certain tables constructed from that report, he concludes as follows:— The mode of treatment developed in the following pages is founded on the principle, that the diseases of children, and of adults also, proceed from irritation, considered in a general sense, as distinct from inflammation, and in- dicating an opposite course of treatment. Having so frequently witnessed the benefi- cial effects of his mode of treatment, not only in the diseases of children expressly mentioned in the following pages, but in others also, whether occurring in children or adults, I have ventured to publish the present work, with the view of calling the attention of both medical practitioners and parents more especially to the subject.