Epilepsy : its symptoms, treatment, and relation to other chronic convulsive diseases / by J. Russell Reynolds.

  • Reynolds J. Russell (John Russell), Sir, 1828-1896.
Date:
1861
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Epilepsy : its symptoms, treatment, and relation to other chronic convulsive diseases / by J. Russell Reynolds. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    PREFACE. malady under which an individual suffers carries vnih it certain pathological ideas, and conveys the case to its position in our nosological categories. But the examination of particular cases is the basis of aU pathological science; observation of the phenomena of disease is the source whence our notions are derived ; and hence the standard to which we must appeal for the confii-mation or contradiction of our doctrines. Thus the classification we employ has its correctness put to the test at the very time that we make use of it; and to frame a satisfactory classification is one great object of natural science. In order that such classification shoiild be absolutely perfect, our in- formation should be co-extensive with the facts ; and, imtil this point is reached, all systems are but temporary arrangements, which express only some portions of the truth of real natural affinity, and this by the formation of groups, the elements of which bear the greatest appreciable resemblance to one another. It is not evident that any perfectly natural system of classification can exist: the only natural division w^hich is established beyond dispute is that of the individual. Such terms as variety, species, genus, order, class, sub-kingdom, and kingdom, have an unfixed meaning, and a changing applica- tion. They are not only convenient, but necessary aids in the progress of scientific investigation; their construction and use- fulness are proofs and measures of the development of scientific knowledge; they convey meanings which, for practical pur- poses, are well understood : but their true meaning cannot be re- garded as established ; for high authorities difier widely as to the essential ideas conveyed by such terms as variety and species ; and enlarged observation renders it necessary that either individuals should change theii' places, or that features regarded as indica- tive of specific difierence should be held as characteristic only of variety, and vice versd; and lastly, that new nomenclature should sometimes be employed to convey accurately the truths we have ascertained. The advantage of classification is tlie power of recognition