Clinical observations : a chapter in clinical medicine : what to observe in diphtheria / by W. Ogle, M.A.

  • Ogle, William, 1827-1912.
Date:
[1860]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Clinical observations : a chapter in clinical medicine : what to observe in diphtheria / by W. Ogle, M.A. 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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    quently be proved to be not the primary one ; it is better as a general rule to state the facts siraply as the eye sees them, rather than as the mind apprehends them. The third subdivision stands for the nervous system. In this also there will be found facts, which may not be, strictly speaking, affections of the nerves. But, I remark, once for all, that provided the same symptom is always classified under the same subdivision, the exact place that is assigned to it is com- paratively immaterial. Four stands for respiratory symptoms. These are generally distinct from the rest. In no subdivision is the advantage of being able to compare symptoms, pari passu, with each other, more plain than in the respiratory. The facility with which, by the proposed method, the respiratory symptoms may be compared with those of the nervous, cutaneous, and circulatory systems, is all that can be desired. Five is for the circulation. Under this heading also, may be arranged, in accordance with the theory of blood diseases, certain facts which may be characterised as constitutional. Six includes the alimentary symptoms, by which are to be understood those that relate to the whole alimentary canal, and to such abdominal organs as are not otherwise specially pro- vided for. Seven and eight are for the urinary and generative systems, and do not need further^comment. This natural subdivision of the symptoms has stood the test of the hurry that is incident to dispensary practice; so that it is almost superfluous to add, that it is of service in an hospital, and under circumstances where more time is at com- mand. Yet but for the device to which I have alluded, even this simple arrangement could only have been followed in cases that were exceptional. The trouble of dividing one^s paper into spaces or columns, might be incurred in studying any particular class of cases; but, for ordinary use, tliis would with me, as with others, have soon been thought superfluous and even disadvantageous. My note-book, though it measures but four and a half inches across, happens to be marked with eight water lines, which run at about half an inch apart, from the top of the page to the bottom. At the top of each page, on the eight lines, the numerals 1, 2-8 are to be* placed. They refer to the diftez'ent symptoms of the body, but they may represent at will, any other subdivisions. When, therefore, the fact to be noted has refer- * It IB better to place the numbers at the head of the page only bo soon as the corresponding symptoms are recorded.