Medical News

not conducted, previously to the introduction of cod-liver oil, on the principle of treating the digestive rather than the pulmonary system, and introducing proper elements of nutrition; much less were practitioners in the habit of looking to the true pathology of the disease, and of regarding the introduction of oil into the system as one of the primary indications of cure. He had looked into the journals of the Infirmary relating to the period in question, and found that in comparatively few cases was a nourishing diet ordered. On the contrary, the general treatment consisted of a few leeches frequently applied to the chest, antimonials, cough mixtures, and opiates, sulphuric acid to relieve the sweating, occasionally counter-irritants, and towards the termination of the disease wine and stimulants. The introduction of the tonic regimen in phthisis had been ascribed to Dr Stewart, of Erskine; but he had good grounds for stating that Dr Stewart's treatment had not been generally recognised by the profession, and that it was founded, not on any pathological principles, but upon an empirical basis. Dr Bennett then entered at considerable length into an exposition of those facts which, in his opinion, proved the curability of tubercle. He considered its pathology to be, first, a derangement of nutrition, dependent on an excess of the albuminous, and a deficiency of the oily constituents of the chyle; secondly, an impaired constitution of the blood ; so that, thirdly, when exudations occurred, they assumed the form of tubercle. He then stated that, in conformity with these views, he considered that the treatment of phthisis should be directed exclusively to the general system, and particularly to the correction of the impaired digestion and assimilation, while the local disease of the lung should in most cases be left to itself. The rule of practice he thought ought to be, an endeavour so to act