The cholera unmasked ; or its true name, nature, and causes pointed out ; also a more consistent and successful mode of treating it / [Bracy Clark].

  • Clark, Bracy, 1771-1860
Date:
1832-1833
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The cholera unmasked ; or its true name, nature, and causes pointed out ; also a more consistent and successful mode of treating it / [Bracy Clark]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    THE CHOLERA UNMASKED; OR ITS TRUE NAME, NATURE, AND CAUSES POINTED OUT; ALSO A MORE CONSISTENT AND SUCCESSFUL MODE OF TREATING IT. BY BRACY CLARK, F.L.S., Member of the Royal Institute of France, Sfc. CORRECTED FROM A COMMUNICATION FORMERLY ADDRESSED TO THE EDITORS OF THE MEDICAL GAZETTE. LONDON—1832: PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, TAUNTON PLACE, REGENT’S PARK.—(NOT FOR SALE.) In the midst of the numerous, opposite, and very conflicting opinions, which prevail at this time respecting the direful epidemic called cholera, permit me to address you, as this disease still exerts its fatal ravages in spite of all that has been done, and the opinions respecting its nature and its treatment seem to be almost as various and unsettled now as they were at the commencement of it, if we may judge, at least, from the recommendations every day proposed in the medical periodicals. Under these circumstances you will, perhaps, pardon the suggestions of one who, though formerly educated for it, is not now strictly one of your honour- able profession, and allow him to advance an opinion which he has long entertained, and which, if it be not founded in truth, has one merit at least— that of novelty. These views have, however, been'shown to a few of his medical acquaintance, who do not see any thing in them to forbid the reason- ings and conclusions here drawn, which has induced him, with great deference however, to make them more publicly known. If they should be admitted, they will certainly lead to a more decisive, and perhaps more successful mode of treating this deplorable malady. Many physicians have, I believe, been of opinion that this epidemic, though designated Cholera morbus, was not properly that disease, at least according to the definitions given of it by the best nosologists ; but what it was, they have left undetermined, or by what name in their system it should be called. Indeed, that it could not very well be cholera morbus was evident, being for the most part deficient in the grand character of that complaint, as indeed its name implies—purgings with increased biliary secretions; for this secretion seems most often morbidly suppressed and entirely wanting in well-marked cases of this disorder ! and the diarrhoea which sometimes precedes it we believe to be no part of the disorder, but is sometimes leading to it, by its weakening influence