Observations on sciatica and other neuralgic affections : with a consideration of their frequent origin from a disordered state of the stomach ; interspersed with some novel views respecting the origin and prevention of gall-stones ... ; together with an account of the waters of Bagnères de Bigorre and Barége in their treatment / by Richard Carmichael.

Date:
1838
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on sciatica and other neuralgic affections : with a consideration of their frequent origin from a disordered state of the stomach ; interspersed with some novel views respecting the origin and prevention of gall-stones ... ; together with an account of the waters of Bagnères de Bigorre and Barége in their treatment / by Richard Carmichael. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

    7/40 (page 5)
    in your steps. I am daily more and more convinced that much mischief is done by the large doses of irritating purga- tives in common use, and adhered to from the temporary relief they give.’ “ Your theory of the origin of gall-stones is very ingenious, and, what is still better, apparently correct. At least I can see no valid objection to it, and I value it as leading to effi- cient prevention. Indeed, the whole scope of your Essay delights me, from the just weight you attach to the organic laws, and the able way in which you inculcate them. Were they more kept in view, as foundations for observation and reasoning, medicine would become at once more philosophic, certain, and efficient. My faith in the power of nature, duly aided by the physician, is very great, and I never see any one taking matters into his own hands, regardless of her wishes, without pain and compassion. My own recovery of a very tolerable degree of health, has been the slow, but sure result of almost undeviating observance of the organic laws ; an observance entailing, after all, few real privations, and richly rewarded in the residts,—and you know the state in which I was. After you left me at Naples I became worse, and yet here I am, while many then robust have gone down to the grave.” And most sincerely do I hope that this distinguished physician may continue to improve in health, not only for his own sake, but for the benefit of mankind, whom he has so materially contributed to enlighten by his popular works on the principles of physiology and dietetics ; works which are universally read, as they are couched in such plain, perspicuous language, without technical phraseology, as to be readily understood by the non-professional reader, and yet contain such valuable matter, and important truths, as to be most