DEFINITION OF DISEASES, &c.

101

imperviable. These and other peculiarities render the diseases ofthe young and aged very different, and of course they must re-quire a different method of treatment. See Diseases"of Chil-dren.

Females are liable to many diseases which do not afflict the other sex :besides, the nervous system being more irritable in them than inmen, their diseases require to be treated with greater caution.They are Jess able to bear large evacuations ; and all stimulatingmedicines ought to be administered to them with a sparing hand.See Diseases of Females.

Particular constitutions not only dispose persons to peculiar diseas-es, but lilceicise render it necessary to treat these diseases in a peculiarmanner. A delicate person, for example, with weak nerves, wholives mostly within doors, must not be treated, under any disease,precisely in the same manner as one who is hardy and robust, andone who is much exposed to the open air.

The temper and mind ought to be carefully attended to in diseases.Fear, anxiety, and a fretful temper both occasion and aggravatediseases. In vain do we apply medicines to the body to removemaladies which proceed from the mind. When that is affected, thebest medicine is to soothe the passions, to divert the mind fromanxious thought, and to keep the patient as easy and cheerful aspossible. See affections of the mind.

Attention ought likewise to be paid to the climate, or place where thepatient lives, tlie air he breathes, his diet, «fee. Such as live in lowmarshy situations are subject to many diseases which are unknownto the inhabitants of high countries. Those who breathe the im-pure air of cities have many maladies to which the more happyrustics are entire strangers. Persons who feed grossly, and in-dulge in strong liquors, are liable to diseases which do not affectthe temperate and abstemious, &c.

It has already been observed, that the different occupations andsituations in life dispose men to peculiar diseases. (See p. 47.)It is therefore necessary to enquire into the patient's occupation,manner of life, «fee. This will not only assist us in finding out thedisease, but will likewise direct us in the treatment of it. Itwould be very imprudent to treat the laborious and the sedentaryprecisely in the same manner, even supposing them to labour un-der tiie same disease.

It will likewise be proper to enquire, whether the disease beconstitutional or accidental ; whether it has been of long or shortduration ; whether it proceeds from any great and sudden altera-tion in the diet, manner of life, &c. The state of the patient'sbody, and of the other evacuations, ought also to be enquired into ^and likewise whether he can with ease perform all the '¿Atal-ani--animal functions, as breathing, digestion, tfce.

Lastly, it will be proper to enquire to what diseases the patienthas formerly been liable, and what medicines w«a-e most beneficialto him ; if he has a strong aversion to any particular drug, &c.

As many of the indications of cure may be. answered by dietalone, it is always the first thing to be attended to in the treat-ment of diseases. Those who know no better, imagine that everytiling which goes by the name of a medicine possesses some won-