THE PRINCIPLES OF MEDICINE.
The Principles of Medicine, as taught in this school, comprise
General Pathology, and a brief view of General Therapeutics;
also Etiology, Nosology, Semeiology, Diagnosis, and Prognosis.
The nature and division of causes are first considered, which introduces
the student to their effects—diseases. Pathology proper
is next considered under the two forms, Functional and Structural
diseases. Functional diseases, being composed of elements, ultimate
and proximate, are analyzed into their constituent parts,
and the elements considered separately before they are contemplated
in combination. Structural diseases being rarely confined
to one anatomical element, cannot be strictly distinguished into
ultimate and proximate elements, and are therefore arranged
under the three heads, increased, diminished, and perverted
nutrition. After the student thoroughly understands the nature
of the causes of diseases, their divisions, modes of operation, and
the resulting effects upon function and structure in the ultimate
and proximate elements of disease, a general view is given of the
influences that can be brought to remove or counteract their elements.
And the course on the Principles is then concluded by
the consideration of nosology, semeiology, diagnosis, prognosis,
and the different modes of death. Text-books—Williams's Principles,
by Clymer.
