Considerations in regard to the treatment of displacement of the uterus / by J. Matthews Duncan.

  • Duncan, J. Matthews (James Matthews), 1826-1890.
Date:
[1854]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Considerations in regard to the treatment of displacement of the uterus / by J. Matthews Duncan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Jh/fK (/-o ^ CONSIDERATIONS IN REGAJS,D TO THE TREATMENT OF DISPLACEMENT OF THE UTERUS. By J. MATTHEWS DUNCAN, M.D., F.E.C.P.E. [from the monthly journal of MEDICAL SCIENCE, OCTOBER 1854] At a late meeting of the Obstetric Society of Edinburgh, I adduced the main part of the following observations in regard to the general aspects of this difficult therapeutic question. Although originally forming part of the discussion of a communication by Professor Simpson, I am induced to publish them now by the pressing interest and importance of the question at this time. The point of greatest weight to insist upon first of all, is the diffi¬ culty of arriving logically at conclusions on this subject having even moderately good claims for acceptance. We have to contend with the impossibility of commanding all the conditions of any experi¬ ment, or contrived observation, so as to leave out one after another of those conditions in each repetition of the observation, and have an instantia crucis as to the influence of any one of them on the re¬ sult.” ^ In applying the numerical, along with other methods of inquiry, to such therapeutic questions, The probability is, that the efficacy of the measures under observation will be overrated, because the desired result is the positive one of the recovery of patients (not negative^ as in questions of etiology, having for their practical end the prevention of disease) ; we know that in almost every case, various causes besides that under trial have contributed to that result; in acute cases, especially, the salutary provisions of nature for the decline of diseases, or, as we may very often more correctly express it, the essentially temporary nature of the diseased action itself; in chronic cases, more remarkably, the unobserved agency of other internal circumstances besides the remedy in question. Of the degree in which these causes have contributed to the fortunate event of any individual case, all candid and intelligent medical men wiU allow that it is very difficult to judge; and without judging of ' Playfair quoted by Alison.