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Dr. Thomas Sydenham, 1624-1689: His Life and Original Writings

Dr. Thomas Sydenham, 1624-1689: His Life and Original Writings is a scholarly compilation that delves into the life and contributions of Dr. Thomas Sydenham, a prominent figure in the history of medicine. The book presents a detailed biography of Sydenham, highlighting his medical career and his impact on the field. It also features a selection of his seminal writings, showcasing his innovative approaches to diagnosis and treatment during the 17th century. more

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Thomas Sydenham
Thomas Sydenham

Thomas Sydenham, a renowned British physician, was born on September 10, 1624, in London, and died on December 29, 1689. He is considered one of the most important doctors in the history of British medicine, known for his contributions to medical practice and theory. more

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“POTABLE, n. Suitable for drinking. Water is said to be potable; indeed, some declare it our natural beverage, although even they find it palatable only when suffering from the recurrent disorder known as thirst, for which it is a medicine. Upon nothing has so great and diligent ingenuity been brought to bear in all ages and in all countries, except the most uncivilized, as upon the invention of substitutes for water. To hold that this general aversion to that liquid has no basis in the preservative instinct of the race is to be unscientific-and without science we are as the snakes and toads.”

“The statistical method is required in the interpretation of figures which are at the mercy of numerous influences, and its object is to determine whether individual influences can be isolated and their effects measured. The essence of the method lies in the determination that we are really comparing like with like, and that we have not overlooked a relevant factor which is present in Group A and absent from Group B. The variability of human beings in their illnesses and in their reactions to them is a fundamental reason for the planned clinical trial and not against it.”

“The theory of medicine, therefore, presents what is useful in thought, but does not indicate how it is to be applied in practice-the mode of operation of these principles. The theory, when mastered, gives us a certain kind of knowledge. Thus we say, for example, there are three forms of fevers and nine constitutions. The practice of medicine is not the work which the physician carries out, but is that branch of medical knowledge which, when acquired, enables one to form an opinion upon which to base the proper plan of treatment.”