The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-19


and they would also be very much puzzled TO
give satisfactory account OF the pneumonia
itself. They will, indeed, generally explain |
diseases by theories more or less plausible |
and practice has been built upon theory, and !
theory has, no doubt sacrificed a number of |
human lives. Yet medicine must have its
dogmatic system, and without it medicine be-
comes little better than empircism.
Some time ago itwas the theory that the
type OF disease had changed; and indeed.
1t is difficult to believe that there
are not substantial grounds for
such an opinion. DIR. Watson once i held tbis his
opinion very strongly, but of late years he
seems entirely to have withdrawn his adhe-
renee; and the simple fact is that the charac-
ter OF diseases is better understood now than
was the case once. We have seen, even of
late years, works where the tendency of GER
tam diseases to death, and the tendency of
certain diseases to convalescence, is much in
sisted on; but imagine that such a cassfca-
tion would now be exposed to rigorous criti-
cism. The history of medicine reveals to us
a succession of so-called Systems" " some of
them mixed up with theories of the universe
and visionary mysticism, like the gases of
Van Hemont or the Vortices of Descartes
and often issuing in rules and practices as
simple and as sanguinary as that of San
grado. Superstition and mysticism and
mere notions are now discarded for the
results of exact science and patient eX-
pertinent. 1t is now understood that patho-
logy and physiology fade into each other,
and that the processes of disease are in
accordance with those which belong to the
structure and functions of healthy organs.
The study Of such a work as DIR. Williams on
the "Principles of Medicine" to which the
late Mr.. Buckle was so largely indebted, will
indicate the present state of medical science
and supply line of reasoning susceptible of
being followed by every thoughtful and edu-
Gated mind.
The recollection of by gone systems of medi-
cine might supply us with abundant curiosi-
ties of prescriptions. They are curious enough
in modern medicine, as, for instance, Sir
Charles Hastings brochure on the use Of the
serpent in phthisis. The following regimen
of Browns for the treatment of a hypochon-
driac patient is probably unique among pre-
scriptions. It's absurdity should not blind us
to the fact that there are real merits in the
Brunonian system, as it is called. With many
people such regimen as the following would
be popular enough
''For breakfast, toast and rich soup made
on slow fire, a walk before breakfast and
good deal after it, glass of wine in the fore
noon from time to time; broth or soup to dinner,
with meat of any kind he likes, but always
the most nourishing; several glasses of port
or punch to be taken after dinner, till some
enlivening effect is perceived from them, and
dram after everything heavy; one hour and
half after dinner another walk; between tea
time and supper game with cheerful COM
pany at cards, or any other play, never too
prolonged; little light reading; jocose, hu-
morous company, avoiding that of popular
Presbyterian ministers and their admirers,
and all hypocrtes and thieves of every de-
soription. Lastly, the company of
amiable, handsome, and delightful young
women, and an enlivening glass;
DR.. Russell, to whom we are indebted for
IL A1,nk Tnl,v
Browns prescriptions seem caricature of his
system" DR.. Russell also mentions the great
Sydenham's plan, ''De uethodo nedendi morboS
per Accubitum Jtnioris." Sydenham, though
theorst, was great man, and his name is
justly regarded with a high degree of vene-
ration. He mentions several cases in which
he cured the diseases of elderly people by
making young people sleep with them. The
practice has Biblical authority, and we believe
is even now pursued in foreign countries.
Another DR.. Brown of Edinburgh, the author
of the 'HorG SubseciUo," shall supply us with
further anecdote of prescriptions:-''M MANY
years ago cOuntryman called on a physician
in York. He was in the depth of dyspeptic
despair, as often happens with the chaw-
bacons. The doctor gave him some plain
advice as to his food, and ended by writing
prescription for some tonic, saying, "Take
that and come back in fortnight" In ten
days Giles came in, blooming and happy,
not little proud of his skill. He asked to
see what he had given him. Giles said he
hadn't got it. "Where was it l' 81 took it.,
sir,' "Took ii What have you done with
the prescription - IL ate it, sir. You told
me to take it,"
DR.. Browns view of the human constitution
we mean the DR.. Brown whose ''system"
almost made medical revolution half CEN
tury ago-is thus ingeniously set forth by his
disciples, and in its main illustrations may be
accepted:-"Suppose fire to be made in a
CRATE filed with kind of fuel, not very COM
bustibe, and which could only be kept burn
ing by means of machine containing several
tubes placed before it, and constantly pouring
streams of air into it. Suppose, also, a
pipe to be placed in the back of the chimney,
through which constant supply of fresh
fuel was gradually let down into the CRATE to
repair the waste occasioned by the flame kept
up by the air machine. The CRATE will
represent the human frame; the fuel in it the
matter of life, the excitability of DIR. Brown,
and the sensorial power of DIR. Darwin. The
tube behind supplying fresh fuel, will denote
the power of all living systems constantly to
regenerate or reproduce excitability; while
the air-machine of several tubes denotes the
various stimuli applied to the excitability of
the body, and the flame drawn forth in conse-
quence of that application represents life, the
product of the exciting powers acting upon
the exctability.' This illustration has
shadowy resemblance to the famous cave
image in Plato.
The whole subject of medical jurisprudence
is an exemplifcation of the Romance OF Medi-