As what is called a doubtful remedy, is for the most part no remedy at all, I look upon such an argument as very fallacious; I shall explain, what I think on this point. Every mortification is the consequence either of some internal morbid cause, or an external accident. In the first case, amputation can be of no service while the morbid cause remains; and who can hope, in so short a time, to remove a consumption, the scurvy, a decay from old age, a dropsy, or cachexy? And if these cannot be removed before amputation, it is to very little purpose to operate on the sound part, as it would only be killing the patient. Is there a physician or surgeon but would conclude he occasioned the death of a dropsical person, were he to cut his mortified leg off above the knee? What is true in a dropsical case, is equally so with respect to others: To amputate, is only to give needless pain, and to accelerate the patient's death. It may be further asked, Must we then in such a situation intirely abandon the patient? I answer, No; but we ought to direct our efforts against the morbid cause, and at the same time, employ the most effectual applications externally, lopping off whatever is absolutely mortified, without cutting to the quick, lest the pain, and other accidents which are the consequence of such incisions, should hasten death. After this treatment, the remainder may be left to nature, assisted with the most efficacious medicines, internal as well as external; and if the patient dies, we may rest satisfied that the disease was beyond the resources of art. FOOTNOTES: [15][15] I hardly ever knew any old officers who have not been witnesses of some examples of this kind; and I have seen several people who have themselves been in such a situation. SECT. XIX. When a mortification in a healthy constitution is the consequence of an external accident, the point is not so easily determined; I will venture, nevertheless, to remove the difficulty. It must first be inquired into, if the ailment has been properly treated at the begining, and if sufficient care has been taken with respect to the cause. If there appears any default in these points, we must first endeavour to repair it, before we think of amputation. If, on the contrary, the treatment has been judicious, we must examine if the mortification continues to spread, or if it be stopt, and its edges begin to discover themselves.