Observations on the results of an advanced diagnosis and pathology applied to the management of internal inflammations, compared with the effects of a former antiphlogistic treatment, and especially of bloodletting / by J. Hughes Bennett.

  • Bennett, John Hughes, 1812-1875.
Date:
[1857?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the results of an advanced diagnosis and pathology applied to the management of internal inflammations, compared with the effects of a former antiphlogistic treatment, and especially of bloodletting / by J. Hughes Bennett. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    nature of disease. Hence this discussion—and, assuredly, it' past experience in medicine were asked to choose iier champion, to none would slic more confidently apply than to that distinguished ])hysician and professor, who, for nearly half a century, has identified his name with tiie history of medicine in this school, and whose pupils most of us have had the hiivh privilege of heing. I sincerely regret that modern pathology has no better exponent of its views than myself; but supported by the conviction that it is to the ad- vancement in medical science that we must look for its improve- ment as an art, I venture to enter uj)on a controversy, which, what- ever be its issue, can scarcely fail, with so eminent and candid an opponent, to advance our knowledge of practical medicine. Before entering into the argument, it maybe well to state its nature. It is admitted by both parties that the practice of bleeding in acute in- flammations, has within a I'ecent period undergone a great change — that, whereas formerly it was the rule to bleed early, largely, and often repeatedly, that now such bleeding is rarely practised, and is not ne- cessary. According to Dr Alison, however, such remedies, but more especially blood-letting, were formerly highly successful by arrest- ing the disease ; whereas, now they are injurious, and fail to do so: and the inference he draws from these supposed facts is that inflamma- tion itself is no longer the same; that its type, and moi*e especially the febrile symptoms accompanying the inflammation, have altered from an inflammatory to a typhoid character, and that the practice, according to the correct therapeutical rules of our forefathers, has very appropriately changed with it. In short, it seems to be Dr Alison's opinion, that our advanced knowledge of diagnosis and pathology has had little influence in producing this great revolu- tion in our treatment, but that the human constitution (in a manner which is not sought to be explained), is fundamentally altered, and that medical men were as right in bleeding twenty years ago, as they are correct in now abstaining from it. In opposition to these views, it will be my endeavour to show—Ls^, That little reliance can be placed on the experience of those who, like Cullen and Gregory, were unacquainted with the nature of, and the mode of detecting, internal inflammations. 2d, That inflammation is the same now as it has ever been, and that the analogy sought to be established between it and the varying types of essential fevers is fallacious, 'dd, That the principles on which blood-letting and antiphlogistic remedies have hitherto been practised, are opposed to a sound pathology. That an inflamma- tion once established cannot be cut short, and that the only object of judicious medical practice is to conduct it to a favourable termina- tion. 5fh, That all positive knowledge of the experience of the past, as well as the more exact observation of the present day, alike > Edinlmrgh Medical Journal,'M.arcli 1866.