482 Convalescence. 
dual, and, in some instances, scarcely perceptible, recovery 
‘from sickness. 
Whilst the study of sanitary and hygienic laws gene- 
rally has made such satisfactory progress in the present 
age, it is noteworthy that little stress has been laid upon 
Convalescence, which is really a branch of the subjects 
alluded to. Inattention on this head is the more to be 
deprecated, inasmuch as the period of convalescence is one 
deserving special consideration, since care or neglect in 
this stage will frequently decide the future state of the 
invalid. In fact, whether he will be for the remainder of 
his life more or less a valetudinarian, or whether he will 
resume his former condition of health are points which will 
be determined, as a rule, by the course of treatment pursued 
during convalescence. 
Unquestionably prevention is better than cure, and it is 
a source of pleasure to all rightly constituted minds, that 
the truth of this old adage is so well understood, and its 
spirit acted upon by the younger generation of practitioners, 
who devote much valuable time and attention to perfect, as 
far as possible, their knowledge of sanitation and hygiene, 
and to illustrate and practically apply the results of their 
labour. Still, as disease does and will, in spite of all scien- 
tific study occur, it becomes necessary, in order that the 
greatest amount of good may result to the patient, that 
the physician should address himself not only to the 
successful conduct of a case through the worst phases of 
disease, but that he should equally endeavour to effect the 
patient's complete recovery from the impaired condition 
disease entails, his duty is to advise measures to rebuild 
the broken down frame, and his aim should be to obliterate 
all the traces left by disease. Disease implies debility, it 
matters littlewhetherit ismarked byinflammatorysymptoms 
or not, disease is usually set up because a given person gets 
below par. Such terms as sthenic and asthenic are cal- 
culated to mislead. What is expressed by-sthenic is correct 
only when employed in a comparative sense, and should 
be regarded as applying solely to the strength of the dis- 
ease, and not to the vigour of the patient. If the term is 
employed at all, it should be with this reservation. Cer- 
tainly a strong man may contract a disease attended with 
symptoms which run high, and which would have been 
met by blood-letting in the old days, yet however strong 
the person may be, he is at the time of the assault of the 
disease below his natural standard of health, and in con- 
