Principios de la medicina fisiologica, y examen de la anatomia patologica y de algunas doctrinas nuevas. Traducida libremente al Espanol por un meedico de esta corte. by BROUSSAIS, Francois Joseph Victor (1772-1838) - 1827

Madrid:: D. Pedro Sanz, 1827., 1827. 176 x 115 mm. 8vo. [viii], 288 [page 289 (table of contents) and page 290 (index) bound after preliminary advertisement] pp. Contemporary full tree calf, red leather spine label, gilt spine, marbled end-leaves; scuffed, heavy worming penetrates top and bottom cover and goes right through the volume, but affects text only marginally, top margin of title page and first 50 leaves heavily wormed on top margin. Good. FIRST EDITION, thus. Spanish translation of portions of Broussais' works, Catechisme de la medicine physiologique (Paris, 1824), and Examen de la doctrine medicale generalement adoptee, et des systemes modernes de nosologie (Paris, 1816), the latter being among his most popular. According to Broussais, vital phenomena depended on external stimuli, especially heat, and produced chemical changes which in turn modified the normal functioning of the tissues. When these stimuli were moderate, the body remained healthy; when they were too weak or too strong, disease ensued. All diseases were local and were transmitted from one organ to another by sympathy or by means of the gastro-intestinal mucosa. All excessive stimuli produced hyperaemia and thus inflammation. The basis of all pathology was gastroenteritis. Broussais called his doctrine physiological medicine, in order to emphasize that disorders of function were more important than structural changes. Surgeon of the armies of France and professor of general pathology and therapeutics at Paris, Broussais was the most celebrated French practitioner of his day. His most common remedy was the application of leeches to the stomach or the head. Opposition by his students and medical colleagues finally put an end to his system of bleeding patients. See: DSB, II, pp. 507-508; Castiglioni, History of medicine, p. 699-700; Garrison, History of medicine, pp. 409-410; Mettler, History of medicine, p. 258 and passim. Palau 36192 (2nd ed.). RLIN: Sutro Library.