The physical examination of the chest in health and disease / by Reginald E. Thompson.

  • Thompson, Reginald E.
Date:
1879
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The physical examination of the chest in health and disease / by Reginald E. Thompson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    CHAPTER XXiy. HISTORICAL SUMMARY. I CA]SfNOT conclude tliese pages witliout giving a short sketcli of the history of physical signs; how far they date back, and to whom they are due: one's memory should always have a place for those observers who have established one fact which enables ns to detect the presence of disease. The earliest sign for the detection of thoracic disease, known centuries ago to Hippocrates, was probably the splash of succussion; and the use of percussion for the diagnosis of fluid in the belly was known in his time. It was not until rather more than a century ago, that the art of percussion was amplified and practised by Auenbrugger, who published his results in 1761. It is due, however, to Corvisart that the discoveries of Auenbrugger, who had met with most undeserved neglect by his contemporaries, were brought to light, and the art was practised especially with regard to heart diseases. Corvisart, as Laennec, his pupil, distinctly states, never applied his ear immediately to the chest, although he was aware that the beating of the heart could be heard by holding the ear near the chest. To continue Laennec's account, Bayle was the first to listen directly to the chest. It was not until 1816, that mediate auscultation was discovered by Laennec. He was consulted by a yoiing woman apparently suffer- ing from disease of the heart. Her age and sex rendered immediate auscultation inadvisable. Laennec, remember- ing that sounds could be heard transmitted through wood,