Internal Medicine

Brown, John, 1735-1788.
Elementa medicinae. English
The elements of medicine, of John Brown, M.D. ; translated from the Latin, with comments and illustrations by the author.
Portsmouth, N.H. : Printed by William & Daniel Treadwell, at the Oracle press, 1803.
New ed., rev. & corr. with a biographical pref. by Thomas Beddoes, M.D.

The Elements of Medicine sets out Brown's theory that life arises by the action of external "excitants" on tissues. Diseases were either "sthenic" or "asthenic" as the vital excitement increased or declined. The treatment is to stimulate the patient (with alcohol) or depress (with opium). The theory was widely accepted as a guide to management in the last quarter of the eighteenth century.

RB 9703.2