Page:A Handbook of the Theory and Practice of Medicine - Volume I - Frederick T. Roberts.djvu/18

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THEORY AND PRACTICE OF MEDICINE. bears upon all or a number of diseases; and which includes certain important subjects, such as cong-estion, haemorrhage, inflammation, degenerations. 2. Special pathology, which is concerned with the various special and individual diseases. The word pathology has come to be frequently employed in a more restricted sense than that just indicated, viz., as signifying- the explanation of the essential nature of morbid processes, of the characteristic changes accompanying the several diseases, and of the pathological causes of symptoms. According to its wider and more correct definition, it will be seen that pathology includes the following subdivisions: —

A. AEtiology or Causation of disease, which treats of the causes of the various maladies, or the influences and agencies by which they are originated.

B. Symptomatology or Semeiology. These terms comprehend the science which is concerned with all that pertains to morbid conditions, whether general or local, in their clinical relations, i.e. as they are represented in the living subject. It has to do there- fore with : — I. Their clinical history, including — a. mode of onset or invasion ; h. symptoms or clinical phenomena ; c. course, duration, and modes of terminatio?i ; d. varieties and types ; e. complications and scquelcc. 2. Their Diagnosis, which signifies the recognition of the seat and nature of particular diseases, and their discrimina- tion from other morbid states, 3. Their Prognosis, or the judg- ment which is formed as to their future course and ultimate issue.

II. Treatment or Therapeutics. — This important branch of Medicine deals with the principles upon which the management of disease is conducted ; and the measures which are employed with the view of preventing or curing the different maladies, of modi- fying their progress, or of relieving their attendant symptoms.

III. Morbid or Pathological Anatomy and Histology. — The structural and other recognizable changes which are associated v^ith organic diseases come under this head, as revealed by post- mortem examination.

An useful and adequate knowledge of Medicine can only be built up by studying the subject in all the particulars just indicated. Before proceeding to study individual diseases, it is highly desirable to have a comprehensive acquaintance with the main facts per- taining to general morbid processes, such as are grouped under ge7ieral pathology. Further, it is essential that all classes of diseases should receive due attention, and that the pathological and clinical relations of diff"erent organs and systems to each other should be known. It is a great mistake for the student to confine his obser- vation to anyone or more "specialties," even though he may intend ultimately only to practise such ; at the same time there are some of the more special departments which at the present day deserve particular attention.

I proceed now to point out the ^plan according to which the Science and Art of Medicine can be learnt most easily and satis- factorily. First, a knowledge of its theory should be acquired, as taught in books, lectures, &c., in which such information and ex-