A dissertation on the history and curation of the obstruction of the intestines in all their modifications and combinations : comprehending the feculent, the bilious, the nervous, the spasmodic, the metalic, the flatulent, the hysterical, or the iliac cholic of authors : together with some cases of these diseases, subjoined in confirmation of the success of the method proposed for the general benefit of man / by Peter Donaldson.

  • Donaldson, Peter.
Date:
1821
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dissertation on the history and curation of the obstruction of the intestines in all their modifications and combinations : comprehending the feculent, the bilious, the nervous, the spasmodic, the metalic, the flatulent, the hysterical, or the iliac cholic of authors : together with some cases of these diseases, subjoined in confirmation of the success of the method proposed for the general benefit of man / by Peter Donaldson. 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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    knowledge and understanding of all morbid signs ; where- by they are qualified to recognize every complexion of morbid phenomena as easily, and with as great precision, as the intelligent and sagacious individual can distinguish the differences of the aspects and features in the counte- nances of men. It is most assuredly the ignorance of the distinguishing signs in every particular complexion of these morbid phe- nomena, constituting each disease distinctly and conjunct- ly, that has caused so many of medical practitioners to err egregiously, and to commit so many blunders in the exercise of the healing art; because, if physicians can- not comprehend the disease under their care, with one qualified intuition of their intellectual powers of recogni- tion, how can they institute the method of curation, being ignorant of the nature of the malady ? And it is impos- sible for them to direct the course of remedies or use of medicines, in any given case of disease which may come under their care, with any tolerable success, unpossessed of this internal discernment. Nay, more, they .may do ir- reparable mischief in their blind routine of practice. They observe a blind course of procedure in imitation of some celebrated author or after the false principles which they have imbibed in schools of medicine, or even adopted from the masters under whose tuition they have been trained to the practice of the art. They carefully conceal their deplorable ignorance of the nature and cure of diseases, by some artful manoeuvre of self-interest or impudence, They impose upon the credulity of their unfortunate pa- tients; they pretend to administer great medicines under the deceitful garb of coloured water, or exhibit random medicaments, which are either useless or pernicious in the disorder supposed to be present in the system. But ah! how chagrined they appear on their dismission where other physicians of real merit and knowledge are called to at- tend their patients, and justly to expose their ignorance and to save the patients from approaching destruction; they conceive malice, and bring forth revenge against the exposers of their unskillfulnes; whereas they ought to la- ment their own inscience and ignorance, and return to the studies of medicine, which they have affected to prac- tice. The want of candour produces in them an obstinate adherence to an unsuccessful method of treating diseases, and a belief of the infallibility of their systems, creates in