Manual of the Turkish bath : heat, a mode of cure and a source of strength for men and animals / from the writings of Mr. Urquhart ; edited by John Fife.

  • David Urquhart
Date:
1865
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Manual of the Turkish bath : heat, a mode of cure and a source of strength for men and animals / from the writings of Mr. Urquhart ; edited by John Fife. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

    143/460 page 119
    Dr. Thudichnm.—There is one point upon which I may, perhaps, make a remark. It is this: whereas, on the one hand, the digestive organs are only enabled to take up the nutritive material which has a certain degree of dilution, and whereas, on the other hand, the blood has the power to nourish the body most effectually when it possesses the lightest specific gravity, and whereas those two extreme conditions are opposed, it is clear that perspiration, by removing from the blood the watery particles, and thereby increasing the specific gravity, must put the blood into the most favourable condition for producing muscle. Mr. Urquhart.—This valuable reflection comes appro- priately to close the subject. I have now been answer- ing questions seven or eight hours. I trust we will drop the bath at dinner, and not renew it afterwards. Permit me, therefore, a final observation. If any material specific were announced as added to the Pharmacopoeia for the cure of one disorder, and for which remedies are already possessed, it would be a subject of interest to science. Here is a mere habit, which operates for the removal of all disease. I, least of mankind, can bo under any illusion as to the difficulties in the way of the acceptance of such a means by the faculty. Doubtless, it does open to the individual medical men who are the first to accept it a large field of professional distinction. There can be no question that being able to cure is one element of medical success. This career is, however, only open to those who are possessed of an ingenuous mind ; for it can only be entered upon after the sacrifice of professional self-love. The medical
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