THE LIFE OF THE BLOOD VITAL STIMULI. 



407 



Of Bleeding, and the L ife of the Blood. Vital Stimuli, 

 and, of the life-giving and renewing Theory. From the 

 earliest ages those who have devoted themselves to 

 the study of disease, have regarded the condition of 

 the blood as of the highest importance. To a bad 

 state of this fluid many ailments have been correctly 

 ascribed. To alter this state was and is the main 

 object of treatment. Modern research has confirmed 

 the opinion so long and so generally entertained with 

 reference to the high importance of a healthy state of 

 blood ; and modern practice is eminently conserva- 

 tive of this fluid. Of late this view, like every other 

 correct doctrine, has been assailed and doubts cast 

 upon its correctness, but it has not suffered from the 

 attack. 



The principles upon which the removal of large 

 quantities of blood was advocated and carried out at 

 various periods in the history of medicine have been 

 proved to have been founded upon incorrect data. The 

 old theories of inflammation even yet maintained by 

 some, have been completely upset by observation and 

 experiment. The blood, which used to be freely drawn 

 for the purpose of reducing an excess of action, is now 

 considered, and in cases of the very same class, to be 

 absolutely necessary for the recovery of the patient. 

 It has .been proved conclusively I. That, morbid 

 changes, which were formerly supposed to be checked 

 by bleeding, really continue in spite of it ; and 

 2. That by violent bleeding the general condition of 



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