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HYDROPHOBIA.
648
HYDROPHOBIA. To tlte Editor of THE LANCET. is as much hypocrisy in
SIR,There
of boiled and roast, and fish and fowl;" somebut " Cætera de genere hoc (adeo sunt
multa) loquacem
Delassare valeut Fabium." It is a fact in the history of theories not infamy to none of the cants that are generally known, that when the doctrines canted in this canting age. How often of the Immoral pathology were taught and do we meet with the more innocent, yet inculcated in the University of Edinburgh, . not less contemptible humbugs of eccen- some of the students happening to read tricity in dress, manners, and opinions-Hoffmann, brought the novel views of assumed merely for the sake of a little that illustrious individual before the me: notoriety ? These are (as" Cullen was dical society-the discussions attracted wont to say of his theories) tubs for theattention, which induced some of the whales," and as long as they succeed as professors, among the rest Dr. Cullen, to decoys many will make use of the bait. attend ; and lame as we may suppose the Variety of opinion on medical subjects reasoning of mere Tyros must have been must for ever exist, and they add much upon such an obscure subject, yet, what to the zest both of the study and the prac- the pippin dropping from the tree was to tice of the art ; yet it has ever been to Newton, this visit to the R. M. Society me matter of as much surprise as of re- was to Cullenthe basis of his fame, I in that views gret, supporting particular have heard that his lecture, when recantso much bigotry and intolerance should his errors, was a most splendid spe. ing be displayed, for what can we call but cimen of candour; it may be summed up bigots men who can only see what they in the language of the eloquent and phibelieve, and actually refuse to believe losophical Cicero, and it were well if what they see ? What notion, however many in these days would follow the ex. absurd or unfounded it may appear to the ample ; " Docti ab aliquo," (says the Rogreat body of the profession, but has its man orator,) " facile et libenter sententia zealous and conscientious advocates and commutabimus, non enim parum cognosse, throng of devotees ? W hat fact upon re- sed in parum cognito, stulte, et diu per. cord has not been sincerely and sturdily severasse turpe est ; propterea quod, denied ? Fever, either its causes, its alterum communi hominum infirmitate, nature or what is more to be lamented alterum unius cujusqne vitio est singulari its treatment, will afford ample illustra- attributum." I contess, Mr. Editor, that tions of these truths ; a priori, from the I have been no less annoyed than disfrequency of its occurrence, its fatality, gusted, when I have seen,through the and the vast space over which it spreads medium of THE LANCET, the manner in its ravages, one would suppose that which Dr. Cullen is invariably spoken of, something determinate regarding it would in the lectures upon the practice of physic, have been obtained, and verily we have delivered in Webb-street. Can Dr. had a multiplicity of writers on the subArmstrong in sincerity assert that in his ject ; the title pages alone of books pro- opinion, "Cullen was a man of no gefessing to illustrate fever, would keep the nius ?" He may perhaps say of Dr. cider cellar in pipe matches for a century. Cullen and with justiceBut, alas !what has resulted from these " labris Sitiens fugientia captat lucubrationsdarkness rendered more Flumina." visible. Not only upon no point is opinion fixed, but the greatest possible difference But Dr. Armstrong may rest assured exists regarding all. We have, in the many will with the same satirist ask and most ultra sense of the words, contagionists add, and non-contagionists, nor are many of « - Quid rides ? Mutato nomine,de te those who allow greater latitude to the Fabula narratur." less causes, dogmatical in prescribing " Certi denique fines But this is digressing: I was remark. Quos ultra citraque nequit consistere ing how contradictory the views were rerectum." garding the nature of fever. They are as much so in regard to the remedial means; The procrustes of the Medico-Chirurwhilst one physician prescribes bark, gical will at once occur to you as an ex- wine, and opium, in every case, another of this what diverclass. Again ample is as partial to cathartics or antimonials, and as to its nature seat : sity of opinion whilst a third only attends to the maxim, some deem fever a general, others a local ’< 0 Medici ! mediam pertundite ve. disease ; some conceive that it takes up its abode in the head, others in"the tomb nam."
religion ; setting aside the cant of- philanthropy, which is second in medicine
a<*
in
-
_
649
the state of opinion on so have allowed old Pincher to ole sacrificed, and palpable a disease, we can- my faithful attendant for seven iong years, not wonder at still greater (if possible) my most amusing and sagacious, if I dare differences existing in regard to so rare, not say intettectuat cumpanion in many and so ill defined a malady as hydropho- a scene, in his friendship never obtrubia, or even that its very existence shonid sive or officioas, a’ways sincere, tried in be denied. From the circumstances of a need, and never found wanting, and belate case which was sent to the Royal sides in a merry hour he had gained by Infirmary of Glasgow, and which (after his tactics a considerable annuity on his the boy had recovered !) was pronounced own life to his master. I mention these not to be hydrophobia by the medical of- things not so much for the melancholy ficers of that establishment, I have been pleasure of expatiating upon the virtues led to indalge a hope that they are in of a departed friend, as to show that possession of criteria by which the nothing but" confirmation strong as disease may be identified, and my object proofs of holy writ," could have induced in addressing you is, to call upon the me to order Pincher for execution, yet physicians to lay them before the public. two of the proscribed dogs died within Surely they conid not reason in the nn- ten days, exhibiting the characteristic philosophical and Abernethian-like mode symptoms of hydrophobia so clearly, that of deciding upon spurious and genuine I was obliged to bribe a man to send a syphilis! That because the boy reco- pair of bullets through his head. vered, the disease was not hydrophobia! Yours, That he did recover is most certain, nor C. is it less true that some months previous to his illness, his hand was much lacerated by a mad dog, and the first sympMUSCULARITY OF BLOODtoms of the disease were spasms, partiVESSELS. cularly about the throat, occasional deliriom, and dread of water. Is there not something like cause and effect here? To the Editor of THE LANCET. Although I do not join an ancient philosopher in believing " Omnia corporis SIR,In reading the accurate report mala ab anima procedere," I am fully of Dr. Clutterbuck’s tenth lecture in aware of the mighty intluence of the mind your valuable publication, I met with in exciting and giving peculiar types to the following passage : "The muscularity disease, and that in this instance it did of the blood-vessela has been denied also, not play the chief part in the drama, I on the ground of their chemical composiam prepared to say ; but it is worthy of tion. have been examined, and They remark, that the boy went through the found not to containflbrine, which is said operations (although superficially per- to be an essential part of muscle. But formed) of excision and cauterization, this is begging the questionarguments and I have yet to learn that his mind drawn from this source are of little avail ; was not altogether at rest about the acanimal chemistry is not sufficiently adcident. I shall finish by stating the facts vanced, to render such a conclusion which induce me to believe that the dog certain or satisfactory." was rabid which bit the boy. Well, I It appears to me, Sir, Dr. C. might recollect the unlucky morn on which the hue and cry of " a mad dog, a mad dog," have effectually refuted this objection of was raised, and that he had bitten several;, the chemical physiologists, by denying, i’n the correctness of the statement ;y among the number a most valuable setter toto, as Beclard, in an essay entitled, " Rebelonging to an intimate friend, and my cherches et experiences sur les Blessures favourite terrier. The enemy was quickly pnrsued by a mob armed with guns, des arteres," an essay full of ingenious pitchforks, spades, &c. and killed, but experiment,, and displaying at the same not before he had bitten the boy alluded time extensive knowledge, although opto, and a couple of mastiffs, the guardians posed to the idea that arteries possess of a print field. The proprietors of the d if- muscularity, says M. Orfila found aAlarge fact ferent dogs reported to have come in con- proportion of fibrine in the coats. tact with the suspected one, were called previously denied by Berzelius and upon instantly to shoot them, but one and Young. I am, Sir, yours, all refused to comply with the request, agreeing, however, to tie them up, and Most re&pectfully, if any one of them should exhibit symptoms of hydrophobia, they should be all E. W shot. What, on a vague report could I Bartholomew’s Hospital.
Such
being
common
,
.
St.
HYDROPHOBIA. To tlte Editor of THE LANCET. is as much hypocrisy in
SIR,There
of boiled and roast, and fish and fowl;" somebut " Cætera de genere hoc (adeo sunt
multa) loquacem
Delassare valeut Fabium." It is a fact in the history of theories not infamy to none of the cants that are generally known, that when the doctrines canted in this canting age. How often of the Immoral pathology were taught and do we meet with the more innocent, yet inculcated in the University of Edinburgh, . not less contemptible humbugs of eccen- some of the students happening to read tricity in dress, manners, and opinions-Hoffmann, brought the novel views of assumed merely for the sake of a little that illustrious individual before the me: notoriety ? These are (as" Cullen was dical society-the discussions attracted wont to say of his theories) tubs for theattention, which induced some of the whales," and as long as they succeed as professors, among the rest Dr. Cullen, to decoys many will make use of the bait. attend ; and lame as we may suppose the Variety of opinion on medical subjects reasoning of mere Tyros must have been must for ever exist, and they add much upon such an obscure subject, yet, what to the zest both of the study and the prac- the pippin dropping from the tree was to tice of the art ; yet it has ever been to Newton, this visit to the R. M. Society me matter of as much surprise as of re- was to Cullenthe basis of his fame, I in that views gret, supporting particular have heard that his lecture, when recantso much bigotry and intolerance should his errors, was a most splendid spe. ing be displayed, for what can we call but cimen of candour; it may be summed up bigots men who can only see what they in the language of the eloquent and phibelieve, and actually refuse to believe losophical Cicero, and it were well if what they see ? What notion, however many in these days would follow the ex. absurd or unfounded it may appear to the ample ; " Docti ab aliquo," (says the Rogreat body of the profession, but has its man orator,) " facile et libenter sententia zealous and conscientious advocates and commutabimus, non enim parum cognosse, throng of devotees ? W hat fact upon re- sed in parum cognito, stulte, et diu per. cord has not been sincerely and sturdily severasse turpe est ; propterea quod, denied ? Fever, either its causes, its alterum communi hominum infirmitate, nature or what is more to be lamented alterum unius cujusqne vitio est singulari its treatment, will afford ample illustra- attributum." I contess, Mr. Editor, that tions of these truths ; a priori, from the I have been no less annoyed than disfrequency of its occurrence, its fatality, gusted, when I have seen,through the and the vast space over which it spreads medium of THE LANCET, the manner in its ravages, one would suppose that which Dr. Cullen is invariably spoken of, something determinate regarding it would in the lectures upon the practice of physic, have been obtained, and verily we have delivered in Webb-street. Can Dr. had a multiplicity of writers on the subArmstrong in sincerity assert that in his ject ; the title pages alone of books pro- opinion, "Cullen was a man of no gefessing to illustrate fever, would keep the nius ?" He may perhaps say of Dr. cider cellar in pipe matches for a century. Cullen and with justiceBut, alas !what has resulted from these " labris Sitiens fugientia captat lucubrationsdarkness rendered more Flumina." visible. Not only upon no point is opinion fixed, but the greatest possible difference But Dr. Armstrong may rest assured exists regarding all. We have, in the many will with the same satirist ask and most ultra sense of the words, contagionists add, and non-contagionists, nor are many of « - Quid rides ? Mutato nomine,de te those who allow greater latitude to the Fabula narratur." less causes, dogmatical in prescribing " Certi denique fines But this is digressing: I was remark. Quos ultra citraque nequit consistere ing how contradictory the views were rerectum." garding the nature of fever. They are as much so in regard to the remedial means; The procrustes of the Medico-Chirurwhilst one physician prescribes bark, gical will at once occur to you as an ex- wine, and opium, in every case, another of this what diverclass. Again ample is as partial to cathartics or antimonials, and as to its nature seat : sity of opinion whilst a third only attends to the maxim, some deem fever a general, others a local ’< 0 Medici ! mediam pertundite ve. disease ; some conceive that it takes up its abode in the head, others in"the tomb nam."
religion ; setting aside the cant of- philanthropy, which is second in medicine
a<*
in
-
_
649
the state of opinion on so have allowed old Pincher to ole sacrificed, and palpable a disease, we can- my faithful attendant for seven iong years, not wonder at still greater (if possible) my most amusing and sagacious, if I dare differences existing in regard to so rare, not say intettectuat cumpanion in many and so ill defined a malady as hydropho- a scene, in his friendship never obtrubia, or even that its very existence shonid sive or officioas, a’ways sincere, tried in be denied. From the circumstances of a need, and never found wanting, and belate case which was sent to the Royal sides in a merry hour he had gained by Infirmary of Glasgow, and which (after his tactics a considerable annuity on his the boy had recovered !) was pronounced own life to his master. I mention these not to be hydrophobia by the medical of- things not so much for the melancholy ficers of that establishment, I have been pleasure of expatiating upon the virtues led to indalge a hope that they are in of a departed friend, as to show that possession of criteria by which the nothing but" confirmation strong as disease may be identified, and my object proofs of holy writ," could have induced in addressing you is, to call upon the me to order Pincher for execution, yet physicians to lay them before the public. two of the proscribed dogs died within Surely they conid not reason in the nn- ten days, exhibiting the characteristic philosophical and Abernethian-like mode symptoms of hydrophobia so clearly, that of deciding upon spurious and genuine I was obliged to bribe a man to send a syphilis! That because the boy reco- pair of bullets through his head. vered, the disease was not hydrophobia! Yours, That he did recover is most certain, nor C. is it less true that some months previous to his illness, his hand was much lacerated by a mad dog, and the first sympMUSCULARITY OF BLOODtoms of the disease were spasms, partiVESSELS. cularly about the throat, occasional deliriom, and dread of water. Is there not something like cause and effect here? To the Editor of THE LANCET. Although I do not join an ancient philosopher in believing " Omnia corporis SIR,In reading the accurate report mala ab anima procedere," I am fully of Dr. Clutterbuck’s tenth lecture in aware of the mighty intluence of the mind your valuable publication, I met with in exciting and giving peculiar types to the following passage : "The muscularity disease, and that in this instance it did of the blood-vessela has been denied also, not play the chief part in the drama, I on the ground of their chemical composiam prepared to say ; but it is worthy of tion. have been examined, and They remark, that the boy went through the found not to containflbrine, which is said operations (although superficially per- to be an essential part of muscle. But formed) of excision and cauterization, this is begging the questionarguments and I have yet to learn that his mind drawn from this source are of little avail ; was not altogether at rest about the acanimal chemistry is not sufficiently adcident. I shall finish by stating the facts vanced, to render such a conclusion which induce me to believe that the dog certain or satisfactory." was rabid which bit the boy. Well, I It appears to me, Sir, Dr. C. might recollect the unlucky morn on which the hue and cry of " a mad dog, a mad dog," have effectually refuted this objection of was raised, and that he had bitten several;, the chemical physiologists, by denying, i’n the correctness of the statement ;y among the number a most valuable setter toto, as Beclard, in an essay entitled, " Rebelonging to an intimate friend, and my cherches et experiences sur les Blessures favourite terrier. The enemy was quickly pnrsued by a mob armed with guns, des arteres," an essay full of ingenious pitchforks, spades, &c. and killed, but experiment,, and displaying at the same not before he had bitten the boy alluded time extensive knowledge, although opto, and a couple of mastiffs, the guardians posed to the idea that arteries possess of a print field. The proprietors of the d if- muscularity, says M. Orfila found aAlarge fact ferent dogs reported to have come in con- proportion of fibrine in the coats. tact with the suspected one, were called previously denied by Berzelius and upon instantly to shoot them, but one and Young. I am, Sir, yours, all refused to comply with the request, agreeing, however, to tie them up, and Most re&pectfully, if any one of them should exhibit symptoms of hydrophobia, they should be all E. W shot. What, on a vague report could I Bartholomew’s Hospital.
Such
being
common
,
.
St.