Periscope

"Thus, our remedies in the acute stage of rhenmatic peniearditis, whateyer their kind, must be adapted and proportioned to the condition of the patient. We must not put our trust in any one remedy, nor rely upon any one partienlar method of treatiment; the remedy and the treatment must be fitted by the skill and experience of the physiciau to the individual case in hand. In the strong and vigorous, for example, where the inflammation runs high, bleeding may be a right and proper remedy; but it is absurd to suppose that it can be equally so in the weak and pallid artisan. We should remember that every person has, iu a modified sense, his own proper idiosyncrasy-a constitution differing from that of another; and therefore, that every case of pericarditis presents us with certain spe-cial objects for our consideration. In some persons, these objects arm well and clearly marked; in others, again, they are obscure and ill-defined.' (p. 101.) Here the writer shows that he has the right clue to guide a man safely in the exigencies of such a calling as medicine. He sees that each case is a new problem, in which the several data vary; and that the mode of solution which fitted one may not at all avail him in another: in fact, he sees and proclaims that principles, and not exact precepts, are to rule our conduct as practitioners; and thus follows in the same track as Bloerhaave indicated in his aphorism, " Nullum ego cognosco remedium, nisi quod tempestivo usu tale fiat." If this be held in view, we think there will ever be more agreement than difference between medical observers, at least as to great points. To attempt any detailed analysis of the work itself would exceed our limits; but we can cordially recommend Dr. Markham's pages to our readers, as faithful descriptions of the subjects he professes to treat of. He has seen, and auscultated, and read, and thought, with a discerning and candid mind. His work is no mere compilation, filled with matter to be taken on. the authority of others, but contains the results of much careful testing and sifting in his own mental laboratory. To must of us, we think, there will be something peculiarly congenial in this book. It comes from a man not on the highest pinnacle of medical eminence-not from one whose dictum we scarcely venture to contravene-but from a fellow-labourer. What he has seen, and heard, and made out, that we may too; his opinions we may freely canvass; his experience will probably be like our own. "As iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend"-perhaps even more than he does that of his pupil.