Conspectus medicinae theoreticae : a view of the theory of medicine ; in two parts: Part I. Containing physiology and pathology. Part II. Containing therapeutics / a new ed., carefully rev. throughout. Translated from the original Latin.

  • Gregory, James, 1753-1821.
Date:
1833
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Conspectus medicinae theoreticae : a view of the theory of medicine ; in two parts: Part I. Containing physiology and pathology. Part II. Containing therapeutics / a new ed., carefully rev. throughout. Translated from the original Latin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    4^5 promise some advantage within it. But no trials have been made of them as remedies, and both reason and the experience of other remedies of that kind sufficiently admonish us to be cautious, and not expect too much. 1666. All fossil acids dissolve calculi without the body: the nitric and muriatic very effectually when they are used strong and uumixed, the latter, indeed, scarcely unless un- mixed. But in certain experiments, strong sulphuric acid seemed scarcely to touch calculus, though, when greatly diluted, it dissolved it very readily. While such remedies cannot be administered concentrated and pure, and the ni- trie and muriatic have little effect when weak, the sulphuric alone remains worthy of a trial in calculous cases. It has been esteemed the most convenient, for other reasons, as it is altered less than the other acids by digestion or the other actions of the system, and may be safely taken in considerable quantity. 1667. Of the neutral salts, those which contain ammonia with sulphuric or acetous acid, when diluted with water, seem* to dissolve calculi without the body; but what effect they have within the body, and to what extent they, or even the sulphuric acid, are changed, before they reach the bladder, must be learn- ed from future experience. A secret remedy, celebrated of late as very highly beneficial in cases of calculus, seems to contain little of any medicine except nitrate of potass. But while so many uncertainties and improbabilities are delivered concernino- remedies of this kind, of which the nature and composition are known to all, it were labour lost to spend time in considering or investigating the stories told by the vender and the vulgar concerning a secret remedy, however highly extolled. In conclusion, whoever shall duly reflect on these notices, scanty and imperfect as they are, concerning the functions of the healthy body, concerning the origin and nature of the dis- eases which impede these functions, and frequently terminate fatally, also concerning the virtues and administration of the remedies which we employ for removing these diseases,—will clearly discern how obscure, and not unfrequently fallacious, are the doctrines* and how rude and frequently inefficient is the art