Essays on fevers, and other medical subjects / by Thomas Miner and William Tully.

  • Miner, Thomas, 1777-1841.
Date:
1823
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Essays on fevers, and other medical subjects / by Thomas Miner and William Tully. 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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    antimonials, nitre, effervescing mixtures, vegetable acids, and the whole round of the antiphlogistic regi- men, less liable to exception. But by far the most prominent obstacle to improvement in practice, is the opinion which has had too much influence, ever since the days of Hippocrates, that every Fever must run its course; that it can neither be broken up at its access, shortened in its duration, nor have its symp- toms materially mitigated, by the interference of art. This has led its numerous advocates to a mere pal- liative and placebo plan, which, as may be supposed, lias served to confirm the very prejudice itself. Even when a more decided course has been adopted, under different views, it has often been so injudiciously ap- plied, or so ineligible in itself, as to result in skep- ticism and uncertainty. In Fevers, the physician who only employs a palliative treatment, resembles the temporizing, nerveless politician, who endeavours to repel foreign aggression, by bribing the enemy, or pay- ing tribute; but he that combats disease, by making an early and powerful impression, is the efficient ge- neral, who transfers the seat of war into the enemy's country. This plan, when properly executed, in the medical, as well as in the belligerent world, is the only one, which, with any degree of certainty, can ensure success. Sufficient importance has not been attached to the early treatment of Fevers. By a proper beginning, a