396 GRAVES, BLAKISTON, TODD. 



teacher of physiology, advocated as long ago as 1833, 

 support in the treatment of fever ; and a stimulating 

 system had been carried into practice by Dr. Blakiston, 

 during the epidemic of influenza, at Birmingham, 

 about the year 1837 (Clinical Observations on Diseases 

 of the Heart, &c., p. 13). But it was reserved for 

 Dr. Graves' pupil, Todd, to carry out this stimulating 

 plan of treatment to its fullest extent, and to apply it 

 more generally. During many of the earlier years of 

 his life, Dr. Todd treated cases of acute disease like 

 most practitioners of that day ; and in his oldest case- 

 books are records of cases of acute pericarditis which 

 were bled and treated by mercury to salivation ; cases 

 of pneumonia which were treated by bleeding and 

 tartar emetic ; cases of fever in which a supporting 

 plan was very hesitatingly and very imperfectly 

 carried out. Slowly and gradually his treatment was 

 much modified ; and at length he became a strong 

 opponent of the doctrines upon which the so-called 

 proper treatment of inflammatory action was supposed 

 to be based. Pericarditis and peritonitis were treated 

 with opium without the mercury ; stimulants were 

 given, and the lancet was completely laid aside. 

 Pneumonia was combated by counter-irritation and 

 soothing poultices, and the skin and kidneys were 

 made to act freely. The strength was supported ; 

 nourishing food was given ; and if the powers of the 

 patient flagged, brandy was administered, at first in 

 small doses, but in many bad cases it was increased to 



