57-4 Medicine. - [Chap. IV. 



claims a great deal of improvement. This has been 

 effected chiefly by giving up the artificial and over- 

 officious management of former times,. by admit- 

 ting the operation of general principles, instead of 

 considering them as poisoned wounds, and by adopt- 

 ing the light, easy, and superficial dressings which 

 experience has been found to approve. 



Much light, during the late century, has been 

 thrown on the various diseases of the Eyes, and 

 particularly on the Cataract. The same may be 

 observed of Fistula Lacrijmalis, and of Fistula in 

 Am. Among many others, Mr. Pott has largely 

 contributed to the elucidation of all these subjects, 

 and to the banishment of many prejudices and er- 

 rours concerning them, which fifty years ago ex- 

 isted in great force. To the same distinguished 

 practitioner surgery is indebted for a mode of treat- 

 mg Curvatures of the Spine, far more successful 

 than any previously known. 



Lately Mr. Abernethy, of London, has suggested , 

 a mode of treating Lumbar Abscess, which some- 

 times succeeds very happily, and often affords rea- 

 sonable grounds of hope in that deplorable disease. 

 And not long since, the theory and management 

 of Ulcers has been gradually improved by the per- 

 severing labours of many surgeons, among whom 

 it would be unjust not to mention Mr. Benjamin 

 Bell, Mr. Home, Tvlr. Baynton, Mr. Whately, and 

 xVL'. Nay lor. The subject of Wounds has recently 

 >>eeii treated with great ability and discernment by 

 Mr. John Bell, of Edinburgh, who deservedly sus- 

 tains a liigli rank among the surgeons of the Scot- 

 tish iuolropolis. 



But \.\\L' greattr-st of all luiprovemcnts in surgery 



