Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-03-23

~ the deficiencies and errors Of the preseI
practice Consist, and e-ort TO a newspaper
aifording the best channel of communicate
when promp, intercourse is desirable, ant
trust 70 the intrinsic accuracy Of my explana
tons to procure for them all the attention the
merit. hope, therefore, no prepossession
will be entertained against what is here advan
ccd, on account of the unusual course which j.
Ipursned, in discussing such questions Besides
IN country practice the opinions of physicians
cannot be collected, examined and corrected
by each other with such facility or to the same
extent as in larger cities, where corporate me-
dical associations are generally established
This conceive sufficient apology for the
ollowing remarks, If the exigcncy ftheir orr :
gin does not render suc, an apology supnrflu-
ous. Every disease has its varieties from, the
external conditions, or remote and exciting
causes under which il is formed. Every disease
fnis also in its range, diversity of habit and
lconstitution on which it has 10 act, thereby
forming another class of varieties; concurring
and preceding morbid Affections and ideosyp-
CRASHES aso vary diseases materially in relation
10 their treatment. With these it is not my
object tn interfere at pre- ient. They create CON
siderations which influence every general plan
of cure, and involve necessarily extensive de-
viatcns from it. Yet both for thc disease and
the treatment must leading character be as
|SSrtaH'eu as cSscntiaii " requisite 10 u uue re-
gard ofevery contingency, and therefore all
important to the general result. With these
limitations, affirm, that the early and repeated
exhibition of cmetics in the prevailing eridem
ic, If they do not cut short the flver, and
thereby at once the most formidable symptoms,
will at least greatly simpif its character, and
render it in great degree harmless, under
almost any collateral treatment, not highly in
furious; such as conceive blood letting to be
in at least the generality OF the cases. It is
with some reluctance, 1 confess, that l make
these bold and positive assertions, and when
feeling the solemn nature of the responsibility
which may be attached to them. could wish
that my observations had been more extensive,
and my intercourse with physicians. CONVEX
SAINT withthe disease. had been greater, altho'
in my own opinion fully adequate to my pre-
sent purpose. But rather than defer this COM
| munication any longer under the desolating
mortality that surrounds us, prefer submit
ting it to the consideration of my medical
brethren in an imperfect state, and look for a
share OF their attention to a point of practice,
which has cngrossed lately most of my own, &
| in which my conviction is settled, and my entire
confidence perfect, established shalt, in
| another number, without going into neral
discussions, offer some remarks, which hope
| may shew the business of the practice recon.
| mend, and warrant its general adoption For
, would not wish, and hope physicians are not
| to be found who would rest the lives of their
patients on the ipse dixit of any writer. known
or anonymous.
A COUNTRY PRAcr1TIoNgR.