Letters concerning the internal dropsy of the brain : to Charles William Quin, M.D. ... from William Patterson, M.D. ...
- Date:
- 1794
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Letters concerning the internal dropsy of the brain : to Charles William Quin, M.D. ... from William Patterson, M.D. ... Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
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![[ §3 ] / head; which we fee is adually the cafe, fmce a con*> hderable determination to that part is obferved in thofe diforders. ' The determination increafes the adion of the blood-veifels, and inflammation is the confequence. This confequence is forwarded by the plethora, particularly of the head, which exifts in the early and advancing flages of life; and the whole train of fymptoms, conftituting Febrkula Hydroce- phalica^ (the name which I appropriate to the difeafe) are then brought into view. But how are we to explain the occurrence of efFu- fion, where the accumulation of the irritable princi- ple is not fo vigorous, and yet the aflion of Ilimuli is afliduous ? In thefe cafes I would conjedlure, that the nervous ftimulus, afUng, as I fuppofe, on a mafs of irritability lefs moveable than in convulfive habits, excites a paflion, wTich, if violent, fuddenly deflroys irritability, or the vital principle, and death ^nfues; or which, if moderate, engages only a part of the irritability, and the natural hate of temper is regained for a'time. To illuftrate this reafoningby an example: In an account of the death of the ce- lebrated Mirabeau we are told, “ Un temperament ardent et trop exerc^ aabrcgc le jours de cet homme celebre dont les talens faifoient I’efperance des amis et de la conftitution.” Upon the report of poifon having been adminiflered, the body being^opened, Ou a trouv6 un Cpanchement dans un des lobes ,du poumon, et un amas de pus dans le pericarde de cceur ; il y avoit aufli un petit 6panchement dans le c^veau^ tons les autres vifceres ctoient eti bon etat.” G 2 Does](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28042396_0089.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
