Wood's Library of Standard Medical Authors (Volume 43) (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. 1884. Excerpt: ... THE PHYSICIAN'S VADE MECUM. GENERAL PATHOLOGY AND THERAPEUTICS. CHAPTER I. HEALTH AND DISEASE. L Health may be defined as the integrity of every structure, and the perfect harmonious play of every function of the body; and its ready adaptability to variations in the external conditions of life, such as the temperature, pressure, and moisture of the atmosphere, as well as to changes in the quantity and quality of the food. 2. Perfect health is as rare as extreme old age. Perhaps, indeed, there is but one condition of the body to which the term "health" is applicable; but there may be departures from this standard of perfect health, to which, nevertheless, the terms disorder or disease would be inapplicable. 3. That health is a condition admitting of degrees is shown by the familiar use of such terms as good, perfect, strong, vigorous, robust, feeble, delicate--differences generally recognized, not only as belonging to the same person at different times, and at different periods of life, but also as distinguishing one individual from another. 4. But besides these differences in degree there are differences in kind, corresponding more or less to peculiarities of external form and indicating a tendency to particular diseases, or to a peculiar character pertaining to all the diseases to which the person may become subject. These differences are recognized as Temperaments--a word wanting in precision, but embodying a useful generalization. 5. Four temperaments are generally recognized--the sanguine, the phlegmatic, the bilious, and the nervous. 6. The sanguine temperament is characterized by moderate plumpness of person and firmness of flesh. The hair is red or light chestnut., the eyes blue, the complexion fair and florid, the skin soft and thin, the circulati...