Lectures on the diseases of the stomach : with an introduction on its anatomy and physiology

Preface

The following Lectures are published, in the hope that they will be found a brief but complete account of what is at present known concerning the Diseases of the Stomach.

Fifteen years ago, the death of a near relative painfully impressed me with the obscurity and uncertainty which peculiarly attach to the maladies of the Abdominal Viscera. From that time I have given to these maladies whatever attention could be justifiably devoted to a special group of diseases by a student and practitioner of Physic in general.

Of the materials I have thus collected, those which form the basis of the following Lectures are derived from sources so various, as to render the concord equally important with the number, of the facts they represent. To the large opportunities afforded me, during twelve years, as a Dispensary and Hospital Physician, I have added whatever could be gleaned by me from a field of observation, the magnitude of which it is difficult to estimate. The Hospitals and Museums of various cities ; the cases recorded by authors of various epochs and. countries ; and especially, the stores of information which are gradually accumulating in the Journals, Reviews, and Transactions of the Medical Profession in the more civilized parts of the world— have all been laid under contribution ; and have yielded me facts which (considering the price of human suffer-

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ing paid for Pathological knowledge) deserve a respect and attention I sincerely disclaim for the manner in -which I have arranged and used them. To this general acknowledgment I must add my special thanks to numerous professional friends, and to hundreds of observers whose smaller contributions could not be separately quoted in the following Lectures.

Of the mode in which the subject is treated, it need only be said, that I have endeavoured to incorporate, with a clinical and pathological inquiry into gastric disease, such physiological principles as may afford a basis for its rational treatment.

In making this attempt with the brevity necessary to bring it within the limits of a short course of Lectures, I am sensible that retrenchment may have been misapplied, or carried too far. But for the latter fault, the reader will, perhaps, find excuses more valid than I can offer. It may, however, be mentioned, that my audience was composed chiefly of the more advanced students of St. Thomas's Hospital; who, having attended the excellent Clinical and Systematic Lectures on Medicine of my colleagues (Dr. Barker and Dr. J . R. Bennett respectively), had already an elementary acquaintance with my subject.

Perhaps, besides the defects thus hinted at, I ought also to apologise for redundancies (as in Lectures III. and VI.) But, apart from the special connexion of Therapeutics with gastric disease, I have a conviction that, in the present era of the Art of Medicine, the language of those who teach it should at least be outspoken, if it may not be eloquent in the more conventional sense of this word.

The Lectures thus delivered have received some additions and corrections in passing through the press ; and have

PREFACE.

Vll been increased in number by one (Lecture V.) which was read as a paper before the Physical Society of St. Thomas's Hospital during the present Session. For the convenience of the reader, I have prefixed a summary of the Anatomy and Physiology of the Stomach. This chapter, derived from my Physiological Lectures, is illustrated by some engravings, drawn on the wood by myself.

WILLIAM BRINTON.

Preface To The Second Edition

In preparing this Edition for the press, I have taken the opportunity of revising and enlarging it. Of the additions thus made, many are dispersed throughout the body of the work. I have, however, added two chapters; the clinical interest of which will, 1 hope, justify their admission to what still only claims to be a brief account of the Diseases of the Stomach.

WILLIAM BRJNTON.