A dialogue between a bilious patient and a physician ... / [James Henry].

  • Henry, James, 1798-1876.
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dialogue between a bilious patient and a physician ... / [James Henry]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    7/46 (page 7)
    your constitution naturally sound, there is every reason to suppose that your complaints are not incurable ; and that, by the use of judicious means, you may speedily be restored to the enjoyment of perfect health. Patient. You speak so lightly of my case, that I almost think you take me for one of those unhappy persons, who, although there is scarcely any thing the matter with them, continually tease their friends w th their complaints, and ex¬ aggerate every little ailment in order to obtain the balm of compassion. If such is the opinion which you have formed of me, believe me that it is erroneous. There is, unfortu¬ nately, hut too much reality in my sufferings; and in the picture which I have drawn of them, I have been most careful to avoid all high colouring. Physician. I am far from thinking that the picture you have drawn is too highly coloured. The misery, both mental and corporeal, which arises from that habitual disorder of the stomach and digestive organs, commonly known by the name of biliousness, can hardly be exaggerated. It is quite suf¬ ficient in ordinary cases to make life very uncomfortable; and in extreme cases, like yours, to make it absolutely wretched. But although biliousness, or a disordered state of the stomach and bowels, is productive of so much distress, it is by no means incurable ; on the contrary, in cases like yours, where the constitution is naturally good, and not impaired by in¬ temperance, it is very easily effected by remedial measures, and in most instances can be entirely cured by them. It is only necessary to take the proper method, and above all things to discover, if possible, the causes which have excited the diseased state, aud scrupulously to avoid them in future. Patient. What you say is reasonable, and gives me great encouragement. But you will excuse me, if, having been so frequently disappointed in the prospects of recovery held out to me by other physicians, I still feel some degree of doubt, and some want of confidence even in what you say. Physician. It is but natural that you should. I am almost a stranger to you, and cannot expect you to repose any extra¬ ordinary confidence in me. Happily, however, on the present occasion, no extraordinary confidence in your physician is required, as he wishes to address himself to your reason, not