A treatise on the diseases of females / by William P. Dewees.

  • Dewees, William P. (William Potts), 1768-1841.
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A treatise on the diseases of females / by William P. Dewees. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library at Emory University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library, Emory University.

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    hedged to be in health, would it not seem to imply an increase of power, rather than a diminution of force? What would seem to be the natural consequence of a weakened state ,of the uterine vessels, or any other vessels in a state of weakness ? Certainly, that they must perform a lesser, instead of a greater duty. If the vessels of a part are really weakened, it seems to follow, that less exertion can be expected from them than when in a state of health and vigour; yet, agreeably to this doctrine, they perform more than in that state of vigour, because they are weaker, and (as we should think) less able to do so. It would also appear, that when vessels were realiy weakened, they would be less able to transmit their contents; yet more is poured out— first, in the form of blood, as in menorrhagia; and then of an elaborated fluid, called fluor albus; for elaborated it really is; yet these vessels are said to be weaker than in a state of health. But would it not seem to be a natural effect, if the vessels of a part be preternaturally weak, that the loss of several ounces of blood immediately from them, would increase this weakness? Yet, so far is this from being the case, agreeably to the scheme of Dr. Cullen and many others, that they must be strengthened; since the fluid they evacuate is more elaborated, and in greater quantity, than in a state of health. Will anv one declare the vessels of the kidneys to be in a state of weakness in diabetes, because they yield quadruple the ordinary quantity of urine? will any one say that the salivary glands are in a state of weakness, because they secrete a superabundant quantity of saliva, under the action of mercury? But Dr. Cullen does not stand alone in this assumption; for most of the writers upon the subject have yielded to the same erroneous opinion; thus, Chambon, Denman, Leake, Vio-arous, Gardien* Capuron, Burns, &c, all talk of debility, either local or constitutional, as the cause of leucorrhcea. Even Mr. Clarke, who has written so ably upon several of the complaints of fe- males, joins in the same belief. Mr. Hunter says, that the term weakness, gives us no idea of a disease: and, indeed, there is none that can be annexed to the expression. By mechanical weakness is understood the ina- bility to perform some action, or sustain some force. By ani- mal weakness the same thing is understood: but when the ex- pression is applied to the animals performing an uncommon or additional action, I do not understand it. Treatise, art. Gleet. 2d. From its appearing chiefly, and often only a little before, as well as immediately after, the flow of the menses. This will certainly prove nothing in favour of the position of * Gardien, it must be observed has scarcely done more than given a literal translation of a great part of Cullen's chapter on this subject. 6