Henry Baird Favill, AB, MD, LL.D., 1860-1916, a ... - University Library

MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH 177
Conditions that are reasonably to be considered as not
degenerate, as in Case 3, the woman with edema and no
general lesion, furnish good indication.
However, most of the instances of acute right heart
embarrassment occur in individuals whose cardiovascular
conditions are chronically deteriorating. The indication is
clear enough where suffocation is
threatened, but the prognosis
is bad.
Time will not permit me to go farther into detail.
There always arises the question, Will it do harm to bleed?
The answer is, Rarely, under conditions that at this day
would be at all considered. Even the theoretical contraindications
of some authors I believe to be largely fanciful,
and the few instances of disaster that followed letting of
even a very small amount of blood may be disregarded.
In spite of the fact, however, I believe that we should move
in the matter with the utmost discrimination; not so much
that we may endanger the individuals, but lest we discredit
a therapeutic measure that is slowly advancing to its true
status.