An account of the late epidemic ague : particularly as it appeared in the neighbourhood of Bridgnorth in Shropshire, in the year 1784; with a successful method of treating it: to which are added, some observations on a dysentery, that prevailed at the same time / by William Coley.

  • Coley, William
Date:
1785
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An account of the late epidemic ague : particularly as it appeared in the neighbourhood of Bridgnorth in Shropshire, in the year 1784; with a successful method of treating it: to which are added, some observations on a dysentery, that prevailed at the same time / by William Coley. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    [ >3 ] impel act Hate of our knowledge where every hypo the (is is conje&ure), I am neither fatisfied with the obfervations of others, nor have I any new ones of my own to offer. Of its efleds there- ioi e we can only with certainty fpeak ; and many confiderations lead me in common with others to believe, that its a61ion is primarily upon the nerves, as originating from the brain : and that it ope¬ rates by a fpecific fedative power, producing a debility of that fyflem of veflels, and at length of the whole body. That the brain itfelf is affefl- ed, appears evident from its diminifhed energy. Tins indeed takes place more particularly in the cold flage of fevers ; but a want of excitement in that organ may be perceived, even in the inter- millions of the difeafe.—The greatefl part of our fyflem is compofecl of mufcular fibres, vvhofe ac¬ tion depends upon an energy, conflantly commu- 4 nicated to them from the brain. What is the preciie nature of this energy has not been ex¬ plained, but it has certainly univerfal influence
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