Elements of medical jurisprudence / By Theodric Romeyn Beck, and John B. Beck.

  • Beck, Theodric Romeyn, 1791-1855.
Date:
1836
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Elements of medical jurisprudence / By Theodric Romeyn Beck, and John B. Beck. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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

    68/1042 (page 44)
    been continued in vain, or unless the constitution of the patient be obviously injured. 25. Decided cachexy, of a scorbutic, glandular, or other nature, known to be incurable, and characterised by evident symptoms of long standing ; dropsies known to be incurable. 26. De- bility and extreme extenuation, joined to a diminutive stature, or to a very tall one, out of the ordinary proportions. This case requires great judgment in deciding on it; and it is advised to adjourn the decision from quarter to quarter. “ When a conscript has grown very rapidly; when he is tall, lean, and slender made; when he has a long neck, arms, and legs ; and when his breathing is difficult from the least exercise: such an individual is out of the question, until nature has added in strength what it has hitherto confined to stature.” 27. Gout; sciatica; inveterate arthritic and rheumatic pains, impeding the motions of the limbs and trunk. If these are present in an acute form, the conscript has a right to a provisional dispensation; but if they be chronic, particular attention should be paid to the condition of the parts. Gout seldom arrives to a high degree of obstinacy, without leaving nodosities and sensible contractions; while protracted rheu- matism alters the form of the muscles and colour of the skin, and causes a wasting of the part affected. The surgeon is warned, in cases where no sensible appearances prove the existence of rheuma- tism, not to mistake a feigned for a real disease ; and the following acute remark is added: “ As it is but just that in some other equivocal cases, such as those respecting the diseases of the breast, humanity should incline to the conscript’s side; so with respect to pains and rheumatism which are not proven, it is equally proper to prefer severity to indulgence; as military exercise, far from aggravating the predis- position, if it exist, will only contribute to remove it.” 28. Epilepsy; convulsions; general or partial convulsive motions; habitual trembling of the whole body, or of a limb; general or partial palsy; madness, and imbecility. The surgeon, in this class of cases, is to be particularly careful not to be deceived by simulated disease.* Such were the rules devised for the conduct of the inspecting military surgeon in the days of Napoleon. They have been followed, though with greatly diminished severity, under the succeeding govern- ments of France. Dr. Marshall informs us, on the authority of Kirckhoff, that these regulations are very closely imitated in the army of the King of the Netherlands. In Prussia, the army is also recruited by involuntary levies, and every man, upon his reaching the age of twenty, becomes available for the services of the state, as a soldier. He is, however, exempted (among other causes), if he is furnished with a medical cer- tificate, stating that he labours under an infirmity, either permanent or temporary, disabling him from military service. A list of diseases that disqualify was transmitted in 1817 to the various military surgeons by * These regulations are published in Belloc, p. 344 to 362; and a translation of them, which I have used, is contained in the Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal, vol. vi. p. 138, &c.