A manual of medical diagnosis / by A.W. Barclay.

  • Andrew Whyte Barclay
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A manual of medical diagnosis / by A.W. Barclay. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    49/642 (page 25)
    CHAPTER II. DURATION AND SEQUENCE OF PHENOMENA. •lividinr/ Diseases into Acute and Chronic—Lonrj A ilment—Pain in Reference to Duration—Order of Sequence—Estuhlished Course of Disease. !HE inquiry into the first manifestation of any devia- icon from health, the duration of the disease, and tlie it’der and sequence of the phenomena, is of considerable importance, as defining in general terms not only the Ihole period of the illness, but also in some measure liie continuance of each ])articular derangement, and 'Stablishiug a certain relation between each new phe- iiomenon and that which immediately preceded it. From the pi’eliminary inquiry as to the age, occupa- idon, and habits of the patient, valuable suggestions are ometimes obtained. We need not dwell upon the varia- idons in the character of diseases, when tliey occur in iu- xncy, youth, adult life, and old age, because these are I'ather associated with stages of development than with I •■eriods of years ; but we may refer to the information of l ardy growth or premature decay, which the contrast be- ■ ween the actual and the probable age of the individual ' ometimes reveals ; and to the liability at certain ages o the occurrence of specific diseases. In a still more oarked manner does the occupation of the patient be- ome the direct index of the disease under which lie is ibouring, as we know that in the pursuit of certain rades men are necessarily exposed to the influence of j arious morbid agencies. Nor less important is a know- ' 3dge of his previous liabits in enabling us to calculate he strength of his constitution, or the tendency to i nhealthy action, in warning us that certain modes of