The Principles and Pratice of Medicine (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1839. Excerpt: ... INFLAMMATION. The first disease of which I will speak, is the most general of all affections. It is one which attacks almost every part of the body, --at least all vascular parts; and which is the most frequent of all disseases;--Inflammation. In the first place, this is the most general of all diseases; it will attack any part of the body that is vascular. In the second place, it is one of the most frequent affections. It is a disease which scarcely any person escapes; it is a disease which is seen every day. It occurs simply by itself; and it is the concomitant of a variety of other diseases. Many diseases are always inflammatory, though they are not simple inflammation;--though there is something more than inflammation, yet inflammation is united with them; and many other diseases are frequently inflammatory, but not always. Besides, inflammation is continually occurring as a means of benefit to the body. It js not only a morbid process; but a process frequently set up by nature for the purpose of restoration, relief, and prevention. It is a disease, too, which proceeds from a vast number of causes;--causes to the action of which we are continually exposed, whether we will or not. Again, it is one of the most dangerous diseases when it affects certain parts, and any part when it proceeds to a certain extent; and it is always liable to be carried to this dangerous point. However slight an inflammation may be, it is always liable to become aggravated to a dangerous point; and it continually does actually attack the most important organs; and hence we may be justified in saying, that the consideration of inflammation is more important, than that of any other affection of the body. When it occurs, not as a disease, but for the purpose of restoration, --for t.