Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-05-18

The iollowing, which was written and
published some time since, by DIR. Jos.
a. GALLUr, (formcrly President and
Professor Of theory and practice IN the
Vermont Academy OF Medicine and of
the Clinical School of Medicine Sc. sc. }
We copy from the Vermont Mercury,
(thc paper in which it originally appear
ed, at the suggestion Of several med
zeal gentlemen; not only because it coin
cidcs with their views on the important
subject treated of, but because in their
opinion II may conduce To the public
good in the treatment of similar diseases
and especially at the present time, as in
tlammallon Of tho lungs is unusually
prevalent in many parts Of the country.
The editor of the Mercury who is per-
sonally acquainted with DR.. 6. says
"the author has devoted long life to
the practice of The healing art, and is
man Of very close and correct obser-
vation on the subject Of disease.
. 1t is perhaps not improper here to
add, that the Structures of DIR. G.. were
written at the urgent solicitation Of
many eminent Physicians who were
dissatisfied with the management of the
Presidents case, as detailed in the Re-
port, and who had great confidence in
the authors experience and ability to
investigate it.
Structures on the Report Of the Physicians in
attendance, in the case of the late v. II.
Harrison, President of the United States.
If it should be inquired why this
sketch has been so long delayed; the
answer might be, chiefly TO suit the con-
venience Of the writer and further, to
give time for the subsistence Of any un-
due sensbil!ty, and To hear all by way
Of reply. The writer has no personall-
ties TO crafty, every throb Of his heart
is strictly professional, and he will even
tread SELF under his feet when in pur-
suit Of correct principles in medicines.
If deception or error should intercept
his course, they must be thrown aside
as rubbish, even emanutlng from any
sohrcc whatever
!, Whilst the community were long and
anxously waiting for the report, the
editor of the Boston Med. & Surgical
Journal thus expressed his views -
"Dho medical advisers will undoubtcd-
ly furnish a minute history of the case,
TO be laid up in the archives Of State,
and to be extensively published not
only here, but III foreign countl les. y
The report 1t seems was expected TO be
a model Of correct American practice,
! to be preserved for imitation IN all time
To come, and that the fate of the worthy
patient might be inevitable, and from
circumstances rrcmcdable In their ma
ture.
/ But, when the long looked for report
~ revealed, what do we discover in 1t
! Nothing but plain every day case II,
! violent, physiological descriptions nc
depressing, sinking, or cholera ahstrac.
tons Of vital force. After having "com.
| planned of having been somewhat indis.
! posed for several days, ON the 27,l
/ of March G84D he arose at 4 o'clock
had 'Iaken a walk around his grounds
and then To the market house, and re-
turned to breakfast at half past seven o.
] clOck' Ii is SAID he performed this
walk with firm elastic step. He then
became engaged with other gentlemen
in business, and whilst there had been
attacked "with severe chill No
doubt his long walk in the dampness OF
the morning was improper for person
! lndlsposed, and in setting, probably, in
Il cool room. lie is now taken with a
chill from these exciting causes, acting
on habit predisposed. This is the
usual manner that ordinary levcrs are
excited, whether accompanied with in
ilammaton OF the lungs, or some other
Of the internal viscera. He had chill
the next day l28th) aud now the disease
/ was considered to be pneumonia, com
/ pllcatcd with congestion ofthe liver. =
! No doubt It was pneumonia, but how far
! the liver was congosted more than or
! dinary, is quite apochryphal for in
every case of inflammation of viscera
, organ, every other organ III that dvi.
sion suffers more or less turgesccnCe ol
/ vessels.
u We are satisfied it was case oI
pneumonia from having cough, anc
! splitting pink colored mucus, aud after.
wards n "bloody mucus, with pains II
the chest aggravated by respIrations
SC. We think the reporter altogether
mistaken in considering his pains a'
"neuralgic." He was, probably, IL
part led into this error by the suggcs-
ton of his patient f; but an opinion Of .
patient ought never to misieRd tho opIn.
ION of the adviser These pains wer,
inscparsblc from tho nature Of the ny.
rcctic habit aud local determination .-
No doubt this persuasion greatly modl.
fed the treatment, for many practitioners
are opposed TO the use Of depletion il
neuralgia
II appears, however, that the modi.
cal attendants were constantly ~ doubt
with regard to the real character of tlIc
] dissase nlthouoh th,V un rpattly con.