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History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

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1 20 <strong>History</strong> <strong>of</strong> Medical Practice <strong>in</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>oismedic<strong>in</strong>al agents can effect a cure. Hence they speak <strong>of</strong> systems <strong>of</strong> <strong>medical</strong> <strong>practice</strong>,viz., Botanic, Eclectic, Hydropathic, Homeopathic, Allopathic, etc., thereby clearly<strong>in</strong>dicat<strong>in</strong>g their belief <strong>in</strong> the idea that all diseases are governed by some one lawor hypothetical rule; and that all remedies are to act <strong>in</strong> accordance with some correspond<strong>in</strong>glygeneral pr<strong>in</strong>ciple. Many more seem to regard all <strong>medical</strong> knowledgeas a k<strong>in</strong>d <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>tuitive mystery capable <strong>of</strong> be<strong>in</strong>g acquired and understood by certa<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>dividuals without any regard to their previous mental discipl<strong>in</strong>e or acquirements.. . . Few appreciate the art <strong>of</strong> cur<strong>in</strong>g or mitigat<strong>in</strong>g diseases restsdirectly on pathology and materia medica. . . . There is not a s<strong>in</strong>gle department<strong>of</strong> natural science or philosophy that does not contribute to or constitute a part <strong>of</strong><strong>medical</strong> science. ... A knowledge <strong>of</strong> the nature and <strong>in</strong>fluence <strong>of</strong> climate, topography,season <strong>of</strong> the year, diet, dr<strong>in</strong>ks and mental habits are as essential to theenlightened physician as are a knowledge <strong>of</strong> anatomy, physiology, etc. . . . Thescience and art <strong>of</strong> medic<strong>in</strong>e may be def<strong>in</strong>ed to be the application <strong>of</strong> the facts andpr<strong>in</strong>ciples embodied <strong>in</strong> the various departments <strong>of</strong> natural, economical andmetaphysical sciences to the elucidation, prevention and cure <strong>of</strong> diseases."There was general discussion by the <strong>Society</strong> on such topics as hygieneand sanitation, the need for postmortem exam<strong>in</strong>ations, registration <strong>of</strong> allbirths, marriages and deaths, education, and the evil effects <strong>of</strong> alcohol andtobacco.Dr. N. Wright <strong>of</strong> Chatham recommended the use <strong>of</strong> acetate <strong>of</strong> potash—1 dram to the p<strong>in</strong>t two or three times a day, <strong>in</strong> addition to mercury andqu<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>e, to <strong>in</strong>sure greater success <strong>in</strong> treatment. In his op<strong>in</strong>ion this seemedto clear the body <strong>of</strong> harmful nitrogenous waste materials through the kidneyswhich "are the sewers <strong>of</strong> the blood."Several articles published <strong>in</strong> the Nortliwestern Medical and SurgicalJournal were <strong>of</strong> general <strong>in</strong>terest: "The Uses <strong>of</strong> Sugar and Lactic Acid <strong>in</strong> theAnimal Economy" by Dr. Samuel Jackson <strong>of</strong> the University <strong>of</strong> Pennsylvania;"Importance <strong>of</strong> the Application <strong>of</strong> Physiology to the Practice <strong>of</strong>Medic<strong>in</strong>e and Surgery" by Dr. E. Brown-Sequard before the College <strong>of</strong>Physicians <strong>in</strong> Dubl<strong>in</strong>; "Last Hours <strong>of</strong> Abraham L<strong>in</strong>coln Includ<strong>in</strong>g AutopsyF<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs" by Dr. C. S. Taft, Act<strong>in</strong>g Assistant Surgeon; "Cerebrosp<strong>in</strong>alMen<strong>in</strong>gitis" by Dr. Ephraim Ingals <strong>of</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois, and several articles concern<strong>in</strong>gdiabetes mellitus and its treatment.1866The Committee on Medical Practice <strong>of</strong> the State <strong>Society</strong> reported thatthe two most important diseases <strong>in</strong> 1865 were cerebrosp<strong>in</strong>al men<strong>in</strong>gitis anderysipelas.Dr. J.S. Jewell <strong>of</strong> Chicago gave a long and scholarly dissertation oncerebrosp<strong>in</strong>al men<strong>in</strong>gitis, with a history <strong>of</strong> its occurrence <strong>in</strong> foreign landsand <strong>in</strong> other parts <strong>of</strong> the United States, together with symptoms, usualcourse and duration, mortality and postmortem f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs. Dr. Jewell enumeratedthe theories concern<strong>in</strong>g its etiology as age, heredity, epidemiology.

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