Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-02-23

are TO be prevented, pain sllaYed and acct
dents avoided. Many diseases embraced IN
this class, require a definite period Of time
in which to run their course. Under these
circumstances art cO-Operates with nature,
not so much with view to cure, as to as
sist him IN conducting them to q safe ter
mination. 1t is here where tie physician
fully appreciates the force of the remark,
"The highest achievement of art is to sus-
tain nature, that she may have time, if pos
sible, to perfect her work"
Because nature Is thus competent to work
a cure Spontaneously in a large elsss of
cases; it BY no means follows that she is
equally capable IN. all morbid conditions.
To conclude, because a given case Of dis
ease RECEIVERS unaided by art, that eOnse-
duently no disease requires the physicians
assistance, is an unwarrantable assumption,
| one that has no foundation in reason or ex-
perienGe. It Is b part and parcel of the
same kind of reasoning that attributes to
one remedy an equally beneficial action in
all diseases; however diverse in character or
degree. This false logic, this ~disptoportion
and lack OF harmony between premises and
conclusions, explain, l think, why it is
that so many find themselves in error and
confusion upon medical topics. Hence, as
medical men, We canlot be too careful in
dNNAAAnA W liz VII OA4Q A1AAA We
must guard ourselves against hat unlimit-
ed faith in the curative power of nature
alone, that leads to serious errors of omis-
sion while on the other, excessive medica-
ton must be avoided, lest it lead to still
gtaver errors Of commission.
The discriminating and properly bal
lanced physician will carefully watch the
operations Of nature, and whenever or
wherever she proves herself sufficient, he
will not embarass her, but if not, he will
cooperate with and support her. Conser-
vatiVe snd cautious as he is, in the man
agement of a large class Ct cases, nSmer-
GUS instances will arise in his practice,
wherein he will be compelled to WELD pow
erful agents with promptness and skill, to
save bis patient Congestion of the brain or
lungs, eeTtdin forms OF hen,srrhdge, PuerPer-
al CONCLUSIONS, bilious colo, cholera, Syphlts
and the uGriOus forms Of H~satGTiGt fercr may
be mentioned as examples of this class.
Then again, how often it is, that a timely
Interference by the obsteritian or surgeon,
saves life, So imdiinert jH the danger in
many of these affections, that nothfhg but
powerful means, speedily and appropriately
directed, will outweigh the power of the
disease, and change its tendency from death
to life" Indeed, exigeneies may arise in
practice, wherein q little time is of price
1859 NaA&Nf oAAO - AAO 6CA0NA ~ w
permitted to pass ,~nnimproved, all is lost
1t is here where the coE1petent physician
early comprehends the situation-he see:
the opportunity point decisive of the
case is to be gained at once, and Unnecessary
TO secure it, ne mc7es simultaneously with
infantry, cavalry and artillery upon the en-
emy's work.
The patients condition here is not unlike
that OF Tie drowning man, who in the agony
of despair imploringly extends a hand fo'
succor. 1t is not a straw that he wants, bu
the quick Intervention of a strong arm tina
is nerved for the effort-one equal in-pro
portion to the resistance which is to b.
overcome.
We turn now briefly to that class Of dis
eases recognized as the iHeHrable. Disease
belonging to this class can only be pallia
ted. Such must eontinus TO be tie case
until some new discovery hall remov
them from that sad category. Tubercle
generous degeneration ofthe tissues, valvu
lar disease OF the heart, residential form
of disease like cholera and yellow fever
and other forms of blood disease, wherein
that fluid may suddenly undergo q fata
change without producing organic lesion
are 5oine Of the prominent examples of thi
class. While it is net claimgd thct repedia
agents exercise that controlling i~nfluenc
here that they do in the preceding class 0
diseases, it is nevertheless true, that the,
are frequently of infinite service. How
commonly is this observed in palIiatinl
suffering, in subduihg fever in sllayinl
excitement, in substituting for restleEsnes
"tired natures SWEET r~est2rer, balmy sleep.
In addition t, measures when look to pal
%liation instead of cure, the physician ma,
sometimes, even in these incUrable mala
dies, be enabled temporarily at least, +
limit the pathological process itself, ant
thereby prOlong life.