264 THEORY OF DISEASE. 



It is hardly necessary to mention, that in the 

 body, the tension of vapour cannot, any more than 

 an electrical current, be considered the cause of the 

 production of force. 



From the theory of disease developed in the pre- 

 ceding pages, it follows obviously, that a diseased 

 condition once established, in any part of the body, 

 cannot be made to disappear by the chemical action 

 of a remedy. A limit may be put by a remedy to 

 an abnormal process of transformation ; that process 

 may be accelerated or retarded ; but this alone does 

 not restore the normal (healthy) condition. 



The art of the physician consists in the knowledge 

 of the means which enable him to exercise an in- 

 fluence on the duration of the disease ; and in the 

 removal of all disturbing causes, the action of which 

 strengthens or increases that of the actual cause of 

 disease. 



It is only by a just application of its principles 

 that any theory can produce really beneficial results. 

 The very same method of cure may restore health 

 in one individual, which, if applied to another, may 

 prove fatal in its effects. Thus in certain inflamma- 

 tory diseases, and in highly muscular subjects, the 

 antiphlogistic treatment has a very high value; 

 while in other cases blood-letting produces unfavour- 

 able results. The vivifying agency of the blood 

 must ever continue to be the most important condi- 

 tion in the restoration of a disturbed equilibrium, 

 which result is always dependant on the saving of 



