An inquiry concerning that disturbed state of the vital functions usually denominated constitutional irritation / by Benjamin Travers.

  • Travers, Benjamin, 1783-1858.
Date:
1826
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An inquiry concerning that disturbed state of the vital functions usually denominated constitutional irritation / by Benjamin Travers. 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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    PREFACE. Since my mind was first directed to the practice of my profession, it has been in a particular manner interested by the subject of this treatise. The phrase irritation, although it has no precise idea affixed to it, is in constant use, and appears so to satisfy or to suspend inquiry relative to unforeseen results, as to be little better than an empirical sub- terfuge. My object therefore in undertaking this inquiry was, to ascertain with more precision the morbid state indicated by the term constitutional irrita- tion, to investigate the causes most commonly pro- ductive of that state, the phenomena by which it is manifested, and the laws by which it is governed; and, from the comprehensive view thus obtained, to derive, if possible, some permanent pathological characters, which might serve as a guide to more correct notions of its nature, and more scientific principles for its treatment. I wish I could congratulate myself on having sa- tisfactorily accomplished my design. It is only for the persevering determination with which I have pursued it, that I feel entitled to any credit; but I must be allowed to add, that they alone who have directed their attention to it, can appreciate the difficulties with which the subject is surrounded-