Howden, Ian Dalrymple Clark

2018-01-31T11:45:37Z

2018-01-31T11:45:37Z

1897

In a brief and all too imperfect fashion, is a summary of the conclusions to which I came after a period of more than three months spent largely in the investigation-of this matter. It is perhaps impossible altogether to' eliminate bias on one side or the other, but my endeavour has been to . state the facts as they offered themselves to me, in as fair and impartial a manner as possible.

And yet but a small part of the subject has been touched. What' is the physiological explanation of these variations - in the bulk of the heart, if that interpretation of the physical signs be admitted - in the area of cardiac dullness if this is held to be all that we can vouch for. Is the heart, too, a much more readily moveable body than most of us have hitherto imagined, and are there other movements proper to it besides systole and diastole? What of this rhythmic periodic cycle of which we now begin to hear whispers? These and many others are questions of great and indeed possibly of vital interest. But they are hardly questions to be settled by the clinician & it is from that point of view that this paper has been written. -

Once more, what is the bearing of this new Treatment, if we admit its efficacy, upon the older routine administration of Digitalis and other drugs? Here perhaps an opinion may he expressed, and it is that though the new Treatment may - and probably will prove of inestimable value, as an adjuvant to the rational exhibition of Digitalis, Strophantus & Strychnine, yet in the great proportion of cases it will neither be advisable or yet possible to subject the patient to the Treatment in a satisfactory and competent manner . Like so many other "cures" this seems destined to remain altogether beyond the reach of the great majority of our patients, and yet to be of real use and value to those, more favoured of fortune whose means will allow them to give it a full and fair trial.

http://hdl.handle.net/1842/28251

The University of Edinburgh

Annexe Thesis Digitisation Project 2017 Block 16

An investigation into the method of treatment for chronic diseases of the heart by physical exercises

Thesis or Dissertation

MD Doctor of Medicine