Principles and practice of surgery / by James Syme ; edited with notes and illustrations by Robert S. Newton.

  • Syme, James, 1799-1870.
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Principles and practice of surgery / by James Syme ; edited with notes and illustrations by Robert S. Newton. 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.)

    9/902
    PREFACE. In preparing the surgical writings of Mr. Syme, I have been actuated by no other motives than to present the American profession with the best surgical information extant in Europe, and the numerous improvements and modifications which have been introduced at a recent date by American Eclectics. I need hardly say that the great distinctive feature of Eclecticism, whether in Medicine or Surgery, is the attainment of the greatest success; to admit and practice the truths which are found scattered here and there throughout the writings of all classes of medical men. If Mr. Syme is the best known operator, it is our duty to operate in the same way; if his principles are correct, it it is our duty to adopt those principles ; if any surgeon has improved on his operations, we must recognize those improvements; if his surgical remedies are not the best, then it is our duty to point out the best, and we should always be ready to furnish a reason for deviating from established maxims and rules. It is evident that it is only by cultivating such a spirit as this that Surgery and Medicine can be brought up to the high standard of a positive science. Mr. Syme, like other men, is not infallible ; he has committed errors—and who has not ? If we should reject the opinions of every inan who entertained some erroneous views, there would not be one authority left. The question is often asked, What have American Eclectics done to advance Medi- cine and Surgery ? Our works on Practice, aud the results of our teachings as mani- fested by the success of American Eclectics, show most conclusively that we have vastly improved our Materia Medica ; introducing agents on the certain action of which the Physician and Surgeon can rely—agents which the general profession are adopting throughout the country. We have shown the true character of mercuiy, arsenic, and similar agents as internal remedies, and produced compounds which do all that mercury is claimed to do, and even more, for they are free from the objections to which mercury is liable. We have demonstrated that inflammation is not a disease; that bleeding is never necessary, and that the practice is always unsafe. We have furnished a more rational system of practice, because we reject all theories which do not bear the tests of experience. In a word, we seek for the positive and truthful no matter where found, and adopt as fact only that which we can demonstrate in practice. In the department of Surgery, we have made great improvements, as will be seen by the readers of this work. We have simplified operations, and made diseases curable which have hereto- fore been considered as incurable. The work of Mr. Syme presents the Science of Surgery as known to the Allopathic profession ; my notes are intended to prune it of its errors and make it an Eclectic work. If my readers will think for themselves, and allow no man to think for them,