то

THE MANAGERS

OF THE

ROYAL INFIRMARY OF EDINBURGH,

WHOSE UNREMITTED EXERTIONS IN THE CAUSE OF HUMANITY

HAVE SO JUSTLY ENTITLED THEM TO THE GRATITUDE

AND APPLAUSE OF THEIR FELLOW-CITIZENS ;

THE AUTHOR

RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBES THIS TREATISE,

AS A MARK OF HIS HIGH RESPECT FOR THEIR PUBLIC SPIRIT,

PREFACE.

As I have had pretty extensive opportunities of observing the phenomena of fever, both in the Royal Infirmary, and in this Hospital, and of witnessing the effects of that mode of cure which forms the subject of this Essay; and as neither of the Physicians under whom I acted had any intention of publishing the results of their experience on this subject; I have been induced to give the following observations to the public. Of their many imperfections, no one can be more sensible than I am myself; for although I have extended this Treatise to a much greater length than I originally intended, I am perfectly aware, that there are many circumstances connected with the present Epidemic, which I have either not at all noticed, or handled very super

ficially. My main object has been to establish the utility of copious venesection, and to this, the account given of other remedies has been made in a great measure subordi

nate.

I have not ventured to say any thing of the pathology of the disease; as the obtaining of dissections is attended with considerable difficulty, a regulation of the hospital making it necessary that the consent of friends should first be obtained. I have therefore had but few opportunities of witnessing the appearances after death in fever patients; and those I have witnessed have generally been so very unsatisfactory, as not to warrant me in entering upon this subject.

I know that some individuals entertain a prejudice against what they term a dry detail of cases, and contend that it is much better for the physician to give the results of his experience in a more condensed form. I conceive, however, that it is more expedient to consider the naked facts themselves, than the ambiguous deductions of perhaps biassed or unskilful observers; for tho' physicians may differ much respecting the type or circum