Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-07-06

NHHcm knowing IoT WhaI puipOrt.
My remarks shall, therefore, eonrince
my fellow cili2en-, that 50 far from
blood letting being beneficial, il is pro-
ductlve Of The most serious and fatal el-
lccls. Should ! contribute, by my re-
marks, To save more lives in future, and
arrest this cruel practice, ] would feel
that qualification which arises from the
Consciousness Of having performed a
good act.
How much is il to be regretted that
such an awful scourge Of humanity
should exist!
Duing my residence Of fourteen years
past, in this happy country of liberty and
Independence, am bound to say, that,
in my practice Of twenty seven years as
ply sician, never have | seen IN any
part of Europe such erirnVaganee of
blood letting, as have seen in Mis coun-
try aud this practice sanctioned aud con
filmed by the opinions Of many Physic-
aus, and alledstd:
/. The climate Of this country. e.
The inhabitants are accustomed to be
bled But | will prove that these pre-
texts are entirely jalse and groumdts
/ How many thousands Of our fellow
citizens are sent to an untinely grave!
How many families deprived Of their
amiable children! How many husbands
deprived of their lovely wives! How
many wives of their dear husbands, who
have fallen victims to this great cXtrava-
gance Of bleeding; and the same may
he said Of mercury.
I. We no more count The loss Of blood
(by blnod-letiing) by ounces but by
pounds! Each headache, zach indiges-
lion, each indisposition, is, among many
/ Physicians, quite sufficient prrtence to
say, "You mus. be Jied." 1t seems en-
/ tirely forgotten that blood letting, how
ever the greatest, is likewise thereby the
most dangerous Of all remedies, and that
il sometimes introduces II loss which
! never more can be repaired.
i have, therefore, proposed to myself
to show and prove what must be done
/ when il is imperious to draw blood, or
+, when loo much blood has been taken
away.
| Two things which are unattended TO,
and of which alone an exact judgment
can be followed in bleeding, viz:
| /. .4iieniion 10 the B'ood. =. .7Heniion
10 The crisis.
/ M Me Lio Il IS the human life; in the
blood is placed the strength OF the whole
organic life. Wiihom blood there is no
heat, no motion OF the heart; nor is there
any feeling or general motion Of the
system. Yes, take away from the brain
the blood, and the seli-cogitalive powers
will be Instantly ex,inguished. Without
blood there Is moi amy termination, veg
citation, or function OF life possible.
! Is it not evident that the most robust
persons are such, because rich in blood !?
Certainly it is not such persons who are
attacked with nervous weakness, or on
whom the nervous system prevails
Strength and blood stand always in d.
rect relation. He who takes away too
much blood, or who takes il too often
from patients, takes away not an organ Of
life, but II part Of life itself.
attention 10 The crisis - Under crisis
is understood, the act of nature whereby
|
Of diseases in general, as well as in par
iicular, OF the ievors as of the infamma-
tion. There are called the local crisis
dispersion, complete, If the Crisis was
completes; incomplete, If the crisis was
incomplete; and the disease takes anoth-
or form.
! The important rule, therefore, is, that
"a ,,..n.
reaction by weakness, but that nature
must be kept strong; and that we shall
= take care not to increase that weakness
so as 10 produce an incomplete CRISIS
There is no remedy by which it is easier
to produce weakness and prevent the
crisis than bleeding. And it is a fact
self-evident, that numerous diseases are
themselves no more than a physical
crisis. If therefore, we diminish the
strength by too much blood-letting, we
also take away the means Of recovery,
and we make thus the disease Inalady,
which, devoid of such treatment, would
become either harmless or beneficial.
In burning fevers It is by numerous
experiences proved, that the most simple
fevers, by too much bleeding, become
nervous and pu,rid fevers, Of which ]
can attest many instances.
In pure gastric levers bleeding is al
ways pernicious; it does not vacate the
diseased matter which il situated in the
intestine canal, and can only be removed
by gastric remedies, while bleeding in
such cases vacates par, Of that strength
which. Unnecessary to be acted upon, in
order TO expel the disease.
ROR,T. j. TAYLOR.