A Collection of Chirurgical TractsBeckett, William
Science
A Collection of Chirurgical Tracts
Beckett, William
Surgery
To this I may add an Observation of a Man that had an old Ulcer on
each Leg, which being attempted to be cured, as the Matter gradually
lessened, he was deprived of his Sight. There was no Alteration to
be observed in the Eyes of this Person, but only a Dilatation of the
Pupils, as is generally observed in a _Gutta Serena_, which was judged
to be his Case. In short, upon the running of the Sores, though he had
been perfectly blind, he effectually recovered his Sight again.
I will not tire you, _Sir_, with the Recital of any more Cases of this
Nature. What has been hitherto said, I hope is sufficient to incline
you to believe, that the immediate Cause of the Death of the Child I
spoke of in the former part of the Letter was the Suppression of the
Matter, which had continued to discharge in such large Quantities so
long together. And that such a sudden Stoppage of a Discharge of Matter
may procure a Patient’s Death, though the Symptoms that proceed may be
different. I have likewise shewn the Difficulty there is in Diverting
the Tendency of the Matter to a Part, and mentioned how one Disease is
sometimes converted into another: But of what Use these Remarks may
be I leave you to judge. To me it seems reasonable enough to suppose,
that as a regular Method of Practice is not the Effect of a Man’s
Sagacity, but the Product of repeated Experiences, every thing that
occurs may tend, by a proper Application, to the Illustration of the
Art. What else has made some Men so famous for their Prognosticks? Had
not our great Master _Hippocrates_ a Respect to the Suppression of the
Discharge of Matter from Ulcers, when he expressed himself thus, _Ulcus
lividum & siccum, aut cum virore pallidum lethale est?_ And this we
have known to be true in several Cases.
Well then, does not this sufficiently prove, that where we have
Cause to fear a Suppression of the Discharge, we ought to remove any
Impediment that may embarass Nature in her Work, and advise a proper
Method to promote the precipitating the morbific Matter? For so shall
we, by joining our Forces with those of Nature, still keep her in due
Course; and that when she is grown languid, and departing from her
former Measures.
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