The works of Thomas Sydenham, M. D., on acute and chronic diseases : with their histories and modes of cure / with notes, intended to accommodate them to the present state of medicine, and to the climate and diseases of the United States, by Benjamin Rush.

  • Sydenham, Thomas, 1624-1689.
Date:
1809
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The works of Thomas Sydenham, M. D., on acute and chronic diseases : with their histories and modes of cure / with notes, intended to accommodate them to the present state of medicine, and to the climate and diseases of the United States, by Benjamin Rush. 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 him, upon the publication of his Treatise upon Fevers, he tells him, after having extinguished febrile fires, it will re- quire the same fire to destroy his fame, which will con- sume the globe. With all the praise that has been thus lavished upon Dr. Sydenham's works, it is highly probable future genera- tions will esteem them more than the venerations that have o existed between the time of their publication, and the pre- sent day; for I have no doubt, they contain many appa- rently useless facts, which will be extensively and success- fully applied to the cure of diseases, under the influence of just theories in medicine. I infer this, from several of those which have lately been admitted in our science, having, like the prism which renders objects visible that had pre- existed in an invisible state, already had that effect. I shall briefly mention a few of those theories and facts. A belief in the sedative operation of cold, has rendered popular, Dr. Sydenham's application of it as a remedy in inflammatory fevers. A belief in the stimulating powers of opium, has revived his liberal use of that excellent medicine in all diseases of weak morbid action. A belief in the modern doctrine of what has been called indirect debility, or in the depression and weakness of the system from an excess of stimulus, has established his bold and paradoxical practice, of imparting strength to the body by abstracting blood and other fluids from it, and a beiief in life being the effect of impressions only, by directing the attention of physicians to the diurnal revolutions of the system, has shown the propriety of his fixing the precise times for the exhibition of opium, and for the hours of refreshment, sleep, and exercise in certain acute aid chronic diseases. It is from an expectation that time will thus continue to b