A new and accurate method for diagnosing pulmonary consumption : being a treatise on the faucal symptoms, discovered and arranged / by Daniel White.
- White, Daniel, M.D.
- Date:
- 1858
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A new and accurate method for diagnosing pulmonary consumption : being a treatise on the faucal symptoms, discovered and arranged / by Daniel White. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)
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![[4] lected than to supercede them. I confidently believe that my discovery is of more importance and practical value to mankind than any and all others of this age, and when once universally un- derstood by physicians and the people, pulmonary consumption will be as rarely seen as at any remote period in the world's his- tory. My discovery is based upon the altered appearance of the Mu- cous membrane, of the fauces or throat. By observation it will be seen that this membrane undergoes various changes, in color and other appearances, just in proportion to the extent and severity of chronic iritation upon the lungs. It seems that Providence has wisely ordained these symptoms that we might be able, by observa- tion and experience, to learn the actual condition of the pulmonary tissues. It is unnecessary for us to explain the whys and where- fore's of these changes in this little sheet—it is well known that certain appearances of the tongue indicate the condition of the stomach and other organs—at some remote period in the history of medicine, cognizance was taken of this fact, and the experience of after generations confirmed and perfected these once new diagnostic signs. My notice was attracted to these faucal symptoms more than twelve years ago, and from daily observation from that time to the present I have not had occasion to even doubt its correct- ness. I am well aware that I have not by any means reduced them to perfection in every respect, but enough may be gleaned to enable any one to detect a diseased from a healthy lung. With regard to the various appearances this membrane may assume in the different stages of pulmonary phthisis, I am also aware that there is a field open for improvement—and to render it perfect in every respect may require years of practical observation and experience—yet by carefully observing the various changes pointed out in this pam- phlet it will enable the physician to satisfy himself sufficiently for all practical purposes. The physician will be doubtless surprised at the frequency with which he will encounter these symptoms among the patients under his charge, many of which may be af- fected with other diseases, that will prove to be the immediate cause of their death. Many persons afflicted with pulmonary consump- tion often die with some other acute disease. According to late statistics, one out of every six that die, taking Europe and America together, are from diseased lungs alone ; therefore if he should find that one out of every six or eight of his patients had the symptoms herein described, he should not doubt the existence of pulmonary derangement in some form. _ For convenience of description pulmonary consumption has been divided into three stages, between these no line of demarkation is](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21163686_0006.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
