The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-12-25

previous history and constitution, sIgh1
attack in one case being more dangerous
even than a dangerous attack in another.
7 remember being very much amused with
The coco of a Young doctor and his first
nat;ent. II was child afflicted with ny
drocephalus. According to all the rules
the child ought to die. Nevertheless, the
untoward infant persisted in not dying.
The doctor went from his books to the
bedside, and from the bedside to his books.
He confidently asseverated to me that the
infant ought to die, and manifested not
altogether friendly feeling toward the in
FAINT because it did not die. His treatment
was altogether better than his prognosis !;
OF the time when my knowledge OF the
case terminated it was going on well.
1t is very hazardous for doctor to give
q prognosis; if he openly gives an unfa-
vorable prognosiS, and the case terminates
favorably, his reputation is well-nigh gone.
BIT you will not often find medical man
doing this sort of thing. As rule, the
doctor always takes the most cheerful
view possible of the case, and even hopes
against hope. In the last illness Of George
". the physicians were always pronoun-
cling him better, and in the midst of the
"betterness he died. Other doctors,
however, there are, morbidly disposed,
from whom you may take every grain OF
comfort they give, and something more. 1t
is curious that o doctor cannot always be
trusted with the diagnosis and prognosls OF
his own case. The great Doctor Ballle is
said to have been case Of this. lie is
said to have died Of consumption, and yet
to have denied that he was consumptlve.
He did not experience any difficulty in
breathing, and argued that while his breath
ing was good his lungs could not be bad.
But no medical man now takes this as
decisive. Nature, in her bounty, provides
a larger space Of lung than is necessary,
and will long go on with very small amount
of lung, and with very little difficulty
in breathing. Another noteworthy case
of lung disease is very different person,
the notorious empiric, ST. John Long. He
protested to cure consumption, but in
reality, like other similar quacks, he only
cured cases of cough and bronchitis with
symptoms initiative of those in phthisis.
He Internationally caused death in several
instances by a treatment which would be
perfectly harmless in most cases, but
which was fatal to many delicate women.
He was struck down by consumption, and
died at the early age Of thirty-seven. One
of our most promising doctors in chest
complaints, DR.. Hope, who, at an early age,
had reached almost the summit OF his pro-
fession, was prematurely cut off by con-
sumption. There are few volumes more
affecting than the narrative Of his life ;
and it is impossible to resist the impression
that his fatal illness was in great mea-
| sure due to extreme and unmitigated de-
votion to intellectual labor.
Medicine has often very startling changes
in store which are frequently gloomy
| enough, though sometimes of pleasant
nature. We will, in the first place, select
some of the former. A clergyman in the
neighborhood of Mount Edgecombe was
one day walking very fest, when he was
met by his doctor. He explained, in con-
versation, that he was suffering from pains
of indigestion, and was in the habit OF
taking long walks in order to get rid OF
them. The medical man insisted on eX-
aiming him, and then explained to him
that he was in fact suffering from aneurism
of the heart, and that these long walks
were the worst thing possible for him; and
was obliged to add that the disease would
some day prove suddenly fatal. The
statement was sadly verified. In the midst
Of sermon, at very emphatic passage,
the preacher fell down from his pulpit,
and life was found to be quite eX-
tinct. The congregation broke up in the
utmost CONSERVATION and terror. A man
was in company with another, and from
some casual circumstance he took off his
stockings. His friend took the liberty OF OBJ
serving that one Of his feet was really very
black. 1t was discovered that from some
cause the foot was mortified. In former
times it would have been thought neces-
sary TO amputate it, but medical art has
contrivances whereby this is avoided. A
very remarkable case is mentioned by the
pious Bishop Newton in the valuable frag-
ment of the Autobiography" which has
come down to US. A young nobleman in
the country was dangerously i'll with
fever. Physicians were summoned from
different quarters; and the Bishop relates
that no less a sum than seven hundred
guineas was paid to them as fees. All the
means used were unavailing, and the pa
tient sank rapidly. When he was quite
given over and left alone to die, be was
heard to murmur a request for beer. A
large goblet containing nearly a quart OF
small beer was handed to him, which he
drained at draught, and then drank
aqain. He recovered. think | recollect
also q similar case in one Of the London
hospitals. A man was sitting one day at o
dinner table with a physician, and he men,
toned particular circumstance occurring
RI
tioning to man like you," said the doctor,
"that that is the sign oflhe existence Of a
cavity in the lung" A man who had been
ailing for long time was persuaded by a
friend to consult an eminent physician.
He accordingly went to the consulting
room, and after an examination he was sig
nificantly asked by the physician whether
he had as yet made his will. I am in
formed that he only lived fortnight after
wards. hope it was not case in which
he died Of the doctor rather than of
the disease for panic destroys almost
as much as pestilence. On the other
hand the utmost happiness has been
caused when men had made up their
minds for the worst and had then
been disabused Of some mistaken notions.
OuCn all ocCufreuCe Is uoI unllequent. One
Of the largest fees ever known in the pro-
fession was given to Sir Ashley Cooper,
when he had the pleasure of explaining to
some rich merchant that the latter was
quite mistaken in supposing that he was
suffering from fatal disease. There are
several bastard diseases comparatively
harmless, which closely initiate the pecu-
liarities Of very serious ailments. 1t the
most delightful part of a physicians duty
to give the assurance of health, to disabuse