Introductory lecture on organic chemistry, delivered at the Royal School of Medicine and Surgery, Birmingham / [John Percy].

  • John Percy
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Introductory lecture on organic chemistry, delivered at the Royal School of Medicine and Surgery, Birmingham / [John Percy]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    dients of the blood is effected in some instances, and a chemical change produced in its constitution by catalytic action in others.^’ We now proceed succinctly to consider the relation of Organic Chemistry to the science of medicine. Physicians of all ages have been prone to commit the error of maintaining opinions too exclusive in respect to the nature and treatment of disease. While some have attempted to refer the seat of almost all diseases to the solids of the body, others have referred this seat to the liquids. This wide difference of opinion is to be explained on the ground of ignorance, and cannot excite surprise when we consider the extremely intricate character of the living organism both as relates to structure, and to function. All correct knowledge of disease must be based upon correct views of physiology, and the very foundation of physiology consists of anatomy and Organic Chemistry. To the physiologist, the truth of this assertion will at once be palpable. We shall not, I think, be liable to the charge of being too sanguine, when we express our confident anticipation that at no distant period, when microscopic anatomy and Organic Chemistry, twin sciences in respect to medicine, shall have attained a higher degree of perfection, more rational views of the nature of disease will be entertained, and consequently more rational methods of treatment adopted. The intimate nature of the relation of Organic Chemistry to medical science will appear when we examine an extensive series of diseases which are prominently characterised by a deviation in the chemical constitution of the secretions from the condition of health. As examples I may enumerate the following. In rheumatism and gout we have an increase in the quantity of uric acid; in BrighCs disease, as well as in some other states of the constitution, w^e have a new principle, albumen in the urine; in gravel and stone a practical knowledge of Organic Chemistry is indispensable to enable us to discover the nature of the calcu-
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