An examination of the strictures in the New-England journal for October 1823, and in the North-American review for October 1823, on Essays on fevers, &c / by Thomas Miner and William Tully.

  • Miner, Thomas, 1777-1841.
Date:
1823
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An examination of the strictures in the New-England journal for October 1823, and in the North-American review for October 1823, on Essays on fevers, &c / by Thomas Miner and William Tully. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    ionable treatment ol' the epidemics of Spotted-fever, Pneumonia-typhodes. malignant Dysentery, common Typhus, &c. in the United States ? Dr. Miller's able essay, had the reviewer studied it, might have given him some light on this subject. What is the truth with respect to the mor- tality from Consumption ? The facts in support of our assertions on this point, are too numerous, and too notorious, to admit of question or denial. Even the avowed principles of our reviewer, afford a striking il- lustration of our statements; for, although he pretends to object to pre- scribing to the mere names of diseases, yet he seems to have no idea of deducing his indications, from any other source than the mere names of symptoms In our work, we contended, in company with Cullen and his successors, (and we still contend, however unfashionable it may be,) that the latter method is full as absurd as the former. It is from symp- toms in their connexion and aggregate, and not in an insulated form that the only correct indications can be deduced. Thus, diarrhoea, in certain connexions, can be well treated only by emetics and cathartics; in others, these are injurious, and astringents and Opiates are indispen- sable, even from the access. Pain in the head, when in certain connex- ions, requires depletion and evacuations ; when in others, it is greatly ag- gravated by these means, and requires a directly opposite treatment. Heat and dryness of the skin are sometimes relieved, but at others, are ag- gravated, by the internal use of the refrigerant salts. It is likewise well known, that in some instances, they are best relieved by the diffusible excit- ants ; and at others, greatly aggravated by their use. Instead of absurd- ly pretending to specify what treatment, each symptom in the abstract requires, we insist that Cullen and his successors were right, in adapting their practice to certain aggregates, which they specified under the de- nominations of temperament, diathesis, type, diagnosis, &c. &c. and which, following them, we have detailed, under the same heads (except that we have no essay on temperament,) with greater minuteness, than is any where else to be found. We have repeatedly stated, that all these aggregates or groups of symptoms, are always to have their due weight, in the regulation of practice t and though we have no distinct essay upon diagnosis, yet this is a subject that runs through our whole work. In one place, where this is enforced, we illustrate by stating the well known fact, that distinct Small-Pox, and active acute Rheumatism, in proportion to the degree and intensity of those symptoms, which mark diathesis, type, stage, &c. require a much more rigorous antiphlogistic regimen and treat- ment, than iMeasles and Gout; and yet, our reviewer has the hardihood to say, that we almost entirely neglect the distinguishing symptoms of each disease. Had the critic considered our work as a whole, as we so evi- dently intended, he would have had still less pretext for his cavils. He would then have found all our important principles illustrated, in their application to the diseases, of which we have treated. That our review-