Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-05-25


still more recent growth and expansion
Organic Chemistry Natural productions
of an kinds have been studied and their
hidden properties unfolded; while every
article of food which sustains life has been
analyzed, its constituent parts numbered
and weighed, and the nature OF the con-
nection between them and the human or
ganism has in many instances been saus-
factorily ascertained. When, before our
day, had we such definite and demonstra-
BILE views of digestion, reproduction, gen
eral ABSORPTION, the functions OF tne senses
and motility? Or so clear knowledge Oh
the composition, the chemical and
vital properties of the blood and other ami
NAL fluids, and of the agents which mod
ify them by being introduced from
without, as at the present day? Ii all that
was pictured and written of the brain and
nervous system, anterior to the presen
century were lost, we should still be in
possession of every essential starting point
connected with productive knowledge Oh
their structure and function.
The discovery of distinct properties OF
nervous sensibility and mobility could not
have failed tolead 10 an improved knowiedgs
of the LESSONS in which one on, other, ,ai1q
oftenboth. of these properties are impaired
or lost. So, likewise, the discovery Of
plurality of organs Of the brain and OF their
corresponding functions, which had been
long coniectured, but never attempted TO
be proved, has wonderfully assisted our
judgment of the location and extent OF
cerebral LESSONS as causes OF delirlum ana
other mental alterations in fever and other
acute diseases and of insanity in its various
forms.
Pathology, like physiology, has received
q rich harvest of illustration from the
Tba coptrihu tinns IN the
various tissues are so varied, that the SCI
ence of general anatomy has, within com.
paratiyely short period, assumed new and
more important aspect. There is no class
of organs which has not been most carefully
investigated and the knowledge on the sub
iect greatly improved by the employ
ment of the microsc pc, aided by
minute injection al comparative
anatomy. Our knowledge OF Cancer
and the so-called malignant diseases, and
of urinary and renal diseases has been
greatly advanced by aid of the microscope.
Indeed am very sincere when l declare
that if from any cause were deprived OF
the aid afforded me in general practice by
the use OF this instrument, there are some
diseases in the urinary and renal group l
should decline to treat; for without such
aid and direction, my treatment, OF the
cases 10 which refer, would be the merest
guess-work. Take Brights disease, and
how shall we discover its essential charac-
ters, mark its varieties and progress with
out the aid of the microscope? In scores
of instances, this wonderful instrument Is
absolutely indispensable in discovering the
exact nature and successful treatment oil
disease How valuable, indeed. yet it is
within the reach of all who engage in the
study and practice of medicine. 4 good
achromatic microscope and well assorted
collection of injected mounted specimens
-normal and pathological-all of which
may be purchased for less than two hun
dred dollars, will convey to the student in
few months course of study better
knowledge of the human organization and
the changes that take plIce in diseases
than he can possibly obtain from
books alone in as many tarS. Just
now the whole medical world is
electrified by the light of the microscope in
the hands OF young German ply siclan,
DR.. Koch, of Berlin. Having repeated Pas
teur's culture-eXperiments of the bacillus,
which causes Spleenic Fever, by the same
method of study and experiment he dis
covered the tuJercte bacillus, a rod-shaped
microscopic organism or parasite, in the
centre of the tuberCle cell, and which, 1t
has been confidently asserted, is the dis
ease producing agent of tuberculosis. Stlmu-
lated by the discoveries of PaSteur and
Koch, hundreds of pains taking investiga-
tors are, no doubt, already at work; and
all humanity waits with anxious hopes for
the announcement of the solution of the
problem so long regarded as insoluble-the
cure of tuberculosis.
But these are not all of the advances
that have marked and distinguished the
industry of the present age. In surgery
tbara iS tlp attainment Of great ends Inv
simple means and without pain or deform-
ity-its almost limitleSS resources and pos
sibilities-its crowning glory and priceless
benefits having been conferred on woman! |!
In Materia Medica and Therapeutics
philosophical accuracy and scientific rela.
tions mark the present; and though still
far from resting on q stable basis, their
tendencies and activities are hopefully
moving in the direction of Certainty
in Medicine" In Obstetrics. the
literature of the present time will contrast
most advantagcously with that of all former
periods While we may not rightfully
restrict systematic Midwifery to the pres
ent age, yet it is fact that the mechanism
of labor, the series of expulsiye movements
TO which the child is subjected in parturi-
ton, the fitting time and best means OF
mechanical aid in the different positions
and presentations of the child, and the
stages of labor, almost entirely belong TO
contemporary literature. And it may
jnstly be further claimed that much of the
tact calculated materially TO accelerate the
progress of labor and save the mother much
suffering has been put forth in the present
age; and as in every other department OF
the profession, our countrymen are in
the front rank of progress, if not always in
the lead.
The departments OF Clinical Medicine,
Psychology, and Sanitary Science haYe
shown a not less encouraging measure OF
advancement.
Who can refuse to acknowledge the pro-
gress of our Art when he beholdS the
diversified and practically useful records
of clinical medicine, branch that was
never taught as fully and successfully as at
present.. When he beholds the improved
treatment of the insane, and the idiotic,
and the blind? and, above all, the positive
triufhphs OF
Sanitary Science.
A knowledge of correct principles of
hygiene is becoming more and more neces-
sary as part OF medical education, and, in
like proportion, is being diifused among
the people. 1t has already added to the
continuance of human life an additional
| average duration of seven years and up
W. ards.
Inc present lnteIllSent application Oh
hygienic principles to the puerperal fe-
male, ALLOWING her fresh air and cooling
drinks in place of restricting her. as was
the custom in earlier times, TO close.
heated and impure atmosphere, hot teas and
alcoholic drinks-has greatly diminished
the mortality from childbed and, futher-
more, is happily increasing the number of
healthy, vigorous nurselings.
To defend and relieve our fellow men
from the preventable causes of disease is
manifestly the highest mission and best ser.
vice ofmediCal science and skill: for life is
the sum Ofthe forces that resist death, and
the conflict is universal and perpetual.
Nothing of q material nature lies so near
mems interests rs those which affect their
health and lives; and hence our art will be
exalted just in proportion to the success oI
its application to the defense and protec
ton of the people from preventable causes
| OF disease and death.
Public health questions embrace wide
range of studies. They include the whole
domain of physical geography, the pheno,
mena of climate; the elevation, measure
ment, angle and slope of mountains; the
depth of valleys; the survey and tracking
of water courses to their source; the variety
of soils and their chemical constituents
indeed, every agency or thing by which