The results of a long and diligently pursued investigation of the disorder termed mental derangement ... / by George Henry Cullis.

  • Cullis, George Henry.
Date:
1885
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The results of a long and diligently pursued investigation of the disorder termed mental derangement ... / by George Henry Cullis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    works the following is also taken. ‘ On madness.’ “ Moreover, the very blood in this disorder is thick, sizy, and black : whence upon dis- section the brain appears dry, and almost friable, and the vessels distended with black sluggish blood. Now it will be of use to observe that most of the medicines proper to be given in this disease are endued, in some degree, with the property of opening and scouring the glands.” There are several other works on that table before us from which extracts hade been taken: two volumes on 1 Natural Philosophy Delineated,’ by J. H. Winkler, F.R.S., London, treating exten- sively on ‘disorders in the brain:’—which probably you will have time to glance at. But however highly—the quoted statements and the pub- lications of experienced writers that happen to be in conformity with the views taken by me—may aid in establishing their consistency as to the origin of most of the organic diseases; it has never been intended to rely principally for such proofs upon those writers’ statements, but rather upon those possessed, and easily produced evidences in nature’s works. Still while holding such evidence of their truth, and the firmest conviction of their importance—the views have never, for a moment, been considered absolutely indisputable; leaving them entirely, as every author is bound to leave his work, for the public to decide as to the value of the arguments therein propounded. Butin a work, which advances anything new, and appears at all controversial there will be obstacles in the way of its receiving strict attention, and an impartial decision. First it may appear to contradict the precon- ceived and established belief of the many—and all who have ever studied human character know the difficulty of bringing back public opinion after it is settled on any subject.’ Next, it may be deemed an invasion of the vested interests of many professional gentlemen^ and their acquaintances. Although such knowledge has long been before me—the object of every address hitherto made—is the invitation to any number of men to ‘ an open, free, and unbiassed scrutiny, into the correctness or otherwise of the declared belief in the pointed out obstructions to nature's actions being—(let it be understood—not con- sidered the only cause, experience has shown us other agents occasion- ally injuriously acting, viz.: sunstroke, lightning, sudden flight, &c., but) the frequently inherited and by far the more general origin of diseases in the various organs of the human body. The views possibly being allowed to be correct, it might be enquired “ if the proposed