Observations on sciatica and other neuralgic affections : with a consideration of their frequent origin from a disordered state of the stomach ; interspersed with some novel views respecting the origin and prevention of gall-stones ... ; together with an account of the waters of Bagnères de Bigorre and Barége in their treatment / by Richard Carmichael.

Date:
1838
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on sciatica and other neuralgic affections : with a consideration of their frequent origin from a disordered state of the stomach ; interspersed with some novel views respecting the origin and prevention of gall-stones ... ; together with an account of the waters of Bagnères de Bigorre and Barége in their treatment / by Richard Carmichael. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    It may be imagined from these observations, that I wish to bring the Profession back to the state it was when the urine doctors were held in high repute. This is by no means my object. Mankind are for ever prone to run into extremes, and the practical utility arising from the appearance of the urine was at one time in such estimation, that all the other symptoms with which a patient was affected, were overlooked, in comparison with the indications afforded by the urine. Just in the same way as some young medical men of the present day seem to think, that in discriminating diseases of the chest, the sounds conveyed to the ear by that most useful instrument, the stethoscope, may supersede the necessity for inquiry into the history and general symptoms of the disease. Tliis folly of the urinists was pointedly, but not very de- licately, ridiculed by the celebrated Dr. Radcliffe, Physician to Queen Anne. A woman brought him some urine in a vial, and presenting it, requested advice for her sick husband. AVhat is your husband’s business ? A shoemaker, was the reply. Then tell him, quoth the doctor, to make me a pair of shoes, here is my measure ; at the same time returning to her the vial, from which he had poured her husband’s urine, and replaced it with his own. This well-known anecdote of the sarcastic Doctor Radcliffe, did more to upset the pre- tensions of the urinists than the most demonstrative argu- ment. But surely we should not on this account neglect the indications which the changes in the urine afford of functional derangement, the very threshold of disease. When diseases are fully formed, or organic affections exist, as in fever, gout, hepatitis, dropsy, &c. &c., the useful practical indications afforded by the state of the urine are universally admitted ; but I would wish to call attention to the practical advantages of also watching the state of the urine in every case of disor- der of the chylopoietic viscera, particularly of the stomach. For several days the urine in dyspeptic persons may remain of a clear, healthy, amber colour; then it will suddenly