Reflections on the nature of inflammation, and its alleged consequences / by David Badham.

  • Charles David Badham
Date:
1834
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Reflections on the nature of inflammation, and its alleged consequences / by David Badham. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    9/74 (page 3)
    Condillac, “ pour des principes propres a mener a des decouvertes,^^ Yet, what has not been explained by one or other of these terms, from the formation of pus to the production of hydatids and worms ! There was doubtless a time, but it has long since passed away, when far less assuming dogmas respecting inflammation would have been received with hesitation and distrust, but, “ les suppositions, d’abord arbitraires, sont de- venues incontestables par I’addresse avec laquelle on les a employees.” Before we engage to explain complicated phenomena, on any common principle, we should be in a condition to establish their connexion with each other ; but the author of the “ Phlegmasies Chroniques” pursues a bolder course than most of his disciples, assumes postu- lates for proofs, and clears away all difficulties by the omnipotence of a wmrd. This is the peculiar fault of all framers of systems, who lui'ite as if they really conceiv- ed themselves to be imparting solid information, when in fact they are but calling new words into existence, or giving currency to phrases, or collocations of W'ords, which seldom fail to mystify those who do not reflect, and to perplex those who do. It were difficult to con- ceive, under the pretence of extreme accuracy, a greater want of it (though the writings of several French writers furnish equally conspicuous examples) than the dictum of Broussais, that all those adventitious masses which may develop themselves in the various organs, nay, that even fever itself is but the result of a latent and local inflammation ; though neither of these qualifying terms, could we permit ourselves to adopt it, would put us in possession of any sounder view on the subjects to which he would apply them. Well, indeed, may we say with the philosopher quoted above, as we turn over the never- ending pages of the new pathology, “ Comment quand le principe est vague I'expression aura-t-elle quelque precision ?” '^I here are one or two points, however, to be briefly considered before we can ])rocee<l even to that first part