Facts relative to Cy'nanche Trachealis. 253 



At first, I had reason to flatter myself that I had ob- 

 tained the concurrence of the other physicians, and was 

 about to make preparation for carrying the measure 

 into immediate execution, when I Was rendered unhap- 

 py, by discovering that Dr. Brown had availed himself 

 of a few minutes of my absence, to operate unfavoura- 

 bly on the mind of Dr. Craik, whose assent I was una- 

 ble to reclaim, by either argument or entreaty. Both 

 of these gentlemen were advanced in years, and had 

 each acquired a considerable share of reputation in his 

 profession ; but that increased timidity, which is, per- 

 haps, a common attendant on old age, seemed not only 

 to have extinguished all ardour in the pursuit of addi- 

 tional celebrity, but also to have created a steady de- 

 termination to hazard no part of that stock which had 

 been already acquired, which they persuaded them- 

 selves, in case the experiment failed, would sustain a 

 diminution. I know not what might have been the re- 

 sult, and it would be presumption to pronounce upon 

 it ; but I shall never cease to regret that the operation 

 was not performed. In this awful and afflicting state 

 of things, the lancet was once more resorted to, with- 

 out any better reason, perhaps, than such as impel the 

 drowning man to grasp at a straw, or something equally 

 incapable of affording him assistance. 



From all the observations I have been able to make, 

 concerning this disease, I am disposed to believe, that 

 the point at which bleeding ceases to be a remedy can- 

 not be marked with any degree of precision, independ- 

 - nt of considerations relative to the time and manner of 

 Us commencement ; but I have little doubt, that an at- 



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