The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1862-12-26
Original.
For the Pioneer.
CONSTITUTION OF THE SEASON,

od OF oHerlng lew IemArhs OH the pre-
yailing maladies now working such de-
ysstation within our midst 1t looks to
me, that we, as physicians, do not rightly
understand the peculiar influence exerted
over the human system, by the particular
character of the season. Under such cir.
cumstances, diseases Of all kinds, whether
.acute or chronic, assume either the bthe-
mic or asthenic type, and are generally
more or less febriles Where the former
type is assumed, very l!tth stimulus Is re-
quired. In the latter, the most powerful
diffusiye eti,nnlanls are necessary, TO sup
port nature in her efforts to dispel the
disease; otherwise, the patient sinks, and
exhausted nature being unable to effect a
reaction, the patient must die. Such ap-
pears to be the character of the epidemic
at the present period. 1t might be said
that almost majority Of the patients trea-
ted according to science and regular the
ory die--at least respectable minority,
have passed to the silent regions Of the
dead.
From what little experience have had
the present season. | have become fully
satisfied that there is more to be studied,
than Just the symptoms which are pre-
sented by each case examined.
The first cases treated, used very lit
tie stimulus, and these cases we're long in
regaining their former strength and vigor
Noticing, that as the season advanced,
each case assumed mere Of the ssthenic
grade, began to adopta q more sdmula-
ting practice, and the patients thus treat
ed speedily recovered imagine, prsc-
titioners pay more. attention to the general
symptoms of the disease, than the pecu-
: Mar deroaEds of tie constitutions of their
patients.
Authors give accounts Of instances
where the peculiar characteristics of the
season were more TO be noted by the
practitioner, than the symptoms Of the
disease. An instance Of this kind is re-
lated by Prof. s. Calhoun, in his notes to
Greqory's Practice, vol. lst p. 5S-7.--
The learned professor says "fhe consti-
tuition Of the year is necessary to be
known, in order that the remedies may be
given Of a strength adapted to the disease;
that weak medicines may not be, given
when strong are required, and vice versa.
1t has been believed that more faith is to
be put in knowledge Of the particular
plan of treatment, adapted to each cpl
demic, called a knowledge of the consti
tuition Of the year, derived from practice.
than by attention to the particular symp-
toms of the diseases called to treat; and
this really appears to be true, as all dis
eases parlake of the nature of reigning
epidemic: catsrrhs, abortions, hemorrha-
ges, rheumatism, in the epidemic Of
1883, at Vienna, were treated in the
same way; in the yellow fever of 1898,
the same wa, true; all diseases in the
whole range Of sea- island and land, north
of the line, during that year were cured
in the same way; depletion vas the SOW
ereign remedy. In the the years 1894
typhus prevailed to an alarming degree
in the United States; stimulation then vas
the only means of cnre, and many died
whatever might be their disease. who
were treated by any other plan.
From this quotation we see, that the
first named epidemics were of the sthenic
grade, hence much stimulus was necessa.
ry; in the latter the asthenic grade pre-
vailed, hence the demand for vigorous
treatment. The physician
should always be natures servant, ever
ready to answer her demands and 1t
should to his province to act III Unison
with her in the administration Of his rem.
edies, never administering any which will
thwart her in the attempt to thro's off
the disease.
All treatment in those cases should
consist-frstly, in restoring equilibrium
of action throughout the system, by re-
newing all distractions to free circula-
Of the fluids; and secondly, in administer
ing stich remedies as the nature OF the
case, and strength Of the patient demand.
The of this phenominon have
not ability to explain, but assuredly it
,ss been strongly marked in my little
practice; and l think, if other physicians
will watch their patients closely, thehy