420 ANDROPHYSICS. 



of diseases has been extensively referred to ; Dr. Brown, from whom 

 was named the Brunonian theory, that all disease results from excess 

 or deficiency of excitement ; Dr. Darwin, who taught, in his Zoo- 

 nomia, that all organic life results from, or consists in, living, irritable 

 filaments; and Dr. Good, who has given a new and unique classifica- 

 tion of diseases, in his work, on the study of Medicine. In France, 

 the new doctrine of Broussais, that all febrile diseases originate in 

 inflammation of the mucous membrane of the alimentary canal, has 

 found its votaries : and in Germany, the homoeopathic system of 

 Hahnemann, maintaining that all diseases may be cured by producing 

 similar artificial diseases, of transient duration, and with extremely 

 small doses of medicine, has attracted much attention, notwithstanding 

 its extravagance. We may add that animal magnetism, originally 

 proposed by Mesmer, has been recently revived as a means of cure, by a 

 supposed sympathetic effect upon the nerves, communicated from the 

 operator to the patient. These various innovations have been useful 

 in promoting new researches, but none of them has ever been gene- 

 rally and implicitly received; and the eclectic principle, of selecting 

 the good from all systems, and rejecting the rest, has been the guide 

 of modern physicians.* 



We proceed to treat of Thereology, under the heads of Hygienics ; 

 and Febrile, Eruptive, Nervous, and Secretive diseases. 



1 . Hygienics, we have already defined as that division of The- 

 reology which relates to the preservation of health. Among the 

 conditions on which it depends, are diet, exercise, air, temperature, 

 clothing, occupation, rest, habits, and passions. The consideration 

 of diet, or the quantity and quality of food, is so important that it has 

 sometimes been regarded as a distinct study, under the name of Die- 

 tetics. The structure of the teeth, and other organs, indicates that 

 animal as well as vegetable food is the proper diet of mankind ; and 

 experience has shown that animal food is generally the most nutri- 

 tious, but vegetable food is the most easily digested, and that which 

 should be the most freely used. The name aliment, is applied to 

 substantial articles of food ; and the substances used for flavor or 

 seasoning, are called condiments. Of course both the food and 

 drink should be wholesome, taken at proper intervals, and never in 

 excess. 



Of animal substances, jelly is the most easily digested; and next 

 to this, fibrin, or muscular flesh ; while fat, or oily matter, is less 

 digestible, and should therefore be taken sparingly. Milk and eggs, 

 containing albumen, are moderately digestible, but the latter should 

 not be cooked hard. The common scaly fish, when properly cooked, 

 are of easy digestion ; and oysters much more so than other shell 

 fish. Salted meat, and fish, are best adapted to stronger stomachs, 

 of persons accustomed to vigorous exercise. Of vegetable substances, 

 gluten, contained in wheat, rye, peas, and beans, is quite nutritive 



* The school of the arithmeticians, founded very recently by Baron Louis, pro- 

 poses to improve medicine by a strict analysis of symptoms, and a rigid investigation 

 ot organic lesions; and thus, by a close adherence to the numerical results, to ascer- 

 tain the essential qualities of every disease. The same method is also applied to 



