A SYSTEM OF PRACTICAL MEDICINE. BY AMERICAN AUTHORS. EDITED BY WILLIAM PEPPER, M. D., LL.D., PROVOST AND PROFESSOR OF THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF MEDICINE AND OF CLINICAL ASSISTED BY LOUIS STARR, M.D., CLINICAL PROFESSOR OF DISEASES OF CHILDREN IN THE HOSPITAL OF THE UNIVERSITY Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1885, by LEA BROTHERS & CO., in the Office of the Librarian of Congress. All rights reserved. WESTCOTT & THOMSON, Stereotypers and Electrotypers, Philada. WILLIAM J. DORNAN, Printer. Philada. PREFACE. THE present work has been undertaken in the belief that by obtain ing the co-operation of a considerable number of physicians of acknow ledged authority, who should treat subjects selected by themselves, there could be secured an amount of practical information and teaching not otherwise accessible. It was determined to restrict the selection of authors to those of this country-including Canada-not from any want of recognition of the importance of the studies of certain special subjects by European investigators, but because it was felt that the proper time had arrived for the presentation of the whole field of medicine as it is actually taught and practised by its best representatives in America. It is a matter of importance also that a comprehensive study shall be made of the various forms of disease as occurring among our highly composite population and under our varied and peculiar climatic influences. Of course, in the present work comparative studies of this kind must occupy a subordinate position; yet it cannot fail to enhance both its interest and its value to have the various forms of disease as they occur in this country discussed by those among us who are confessedly the most competent and experienced. The force of these observations must have been felt by the distinguished men to whom I made application, for with scarcely an exception they joined cordially in the laborious undertaking. I take the greatest pleasure in testifying to the courtesy which has marked all our relations, and which has lessened materially the labor and strain inevitable in the production of such a work. To ensure greater accuracy in the revision of the large amount of proofsheets, as well as to relieve me of some of the details connected with the editorial work, I associated with myself Dr. THOMAS HOLMES CATHCART, and, after sudden illness had cut short his very promising career, I was fortunate in securing the assistance of Dr. LOUIS STARR for the same purpose. In order to render the work as valuable as possible to the general |