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CURIOSITIES
OF
MEDICAL EXPERIENCE.
By J. G. MILLINGEN, M.D., M.A.
SURGEON TO THE FORCES; RESIDENT PHYSICIAN
OF THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX PAUPER LUNATIC ASYLUM AT HANWELL;
MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE ANCIENT FACULTY OF PARIS;
OF THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF BORDEAUX; AND AUTHOR OF
“THE ARMY MEDICAL OFFICER’S MANUAL,” &c.
SECOND EDITION.
REVISED AND CONSIDERABLY AUGMENTED.
IN ONE VOLUME.
LONDON:
RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET,
Publisher in Ordinary to Her Majesty.
1839.
WHITING, BEAUFORT HOUSE, STRAND.
TO
SIR JAMES M’GRIGOR, Bart.
M.D., F.R.S., K.T.S., &c. &c.
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT,
TO WHOSE ZEAL AND EXAMPLE THE MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HER MAJESTY’S
FORCES ARE SO MUCH INDEBTED FOR THAT DISTINGUISHED
CHARACTER AND CONSIDERATION THEY COLLECTIVELY
AND INDIVIDUALLY HOLD IN THE ESTIMATION
OF THE EUROPEAN ARMIES,
THIS WORK IS INSCRIBED,
AS A TESTIMONIAL OF PUBLIC RESPECT AND
SINCERE PRIVATE ESTEEM,
BY THE AUTHOR.
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
The rapid sale of the first edition of this work has induced the publisherto reprint it with considerable additions in a less expensive, and moreconcise form—and the author embraces this opportunity, gratefully toacknowledge the liberality with which it has been received, and theindulgence shown to its many imperfections. At the same time he cannot butregret, that in some quarters it has been surmised that he yieldedcredence to the many strange relations which he has recorded from variousmedical works, but which he merely narrated, to show the fallacy even ofexperience, and the many dangers that may arise from the most ingenioustheories and doctrines, in the very ratio of their apparent plausibility.
Although these sketches were not intended for the profession, yet they mayprove of some utility to the pupil who commences the arduous study ofmedicine. They may convince him, that great names, however justlyrespected and renowned, do not constitute a sufficient basis, on which torest a satisfactory and conclusive judgment; and, as Locke has justlyobserved, that “reverence or prejudice must not be suffered to givebeauty or deformity to any of their opinions.” He will find that of whichfurther experience will subsequently convince him, that medicalinvestigation is too often founded upon analogy and hypo