A Treatise, on G-eneral Pathology. By Dr. T. Henle, Professor
of Anatomy and Physiology in Heidelberg. Translated from
the German. By Henry C. Preston, A. M., M. D. Phila-
delphia. Lindsay & Blakiston, 1853. pp. 391.
It is with sincere pleasure that we notice the appearance of a
translation of Prof. Ilenld’s treatise on Pathology, for we have
long felt the want of an easily accessible standard work on the
subject. Prof. Henld’s reputation as an anatomist and pathologist
has been long and well established—his General Anatomy, pub-
lished 1841, being regarded as a classical work all over the world.
The present treatise forms the first part of his extensive work on
Bational Pathology, which, begun in 1846, has only recently
been concluded. It is, as the author himself informs us, an
attempt to collect into the same form, those physiological facts
which the observations of diseased bodies have brought to light,
together with the theories and hypotheses pertaining to them.
This volume, or the part on General Pathology, treats of all
those topics which are especially attractive to every reflecting
medical man, and which for centuries have occupied the attention
of the most distinguished medical minds.
Prof. H. commences his works with a description of the dif-
ferent medical systems. The method of cure derived from
clinical experience he calls the Empirical system; whilst the
method which considers the symptoms in their dependence upon
each other, he denotes as the Physiological or JZatfzonaZ system.
He deems the Empirical system preferable, provided the medical
experiences be pure and undeniable: the statistical method of
Louis for classing experiences, he does not regard as applicable to
rare or chronic diseases, nor to those whose course presents great
fluctuation.
Rational Pathology he divides into four sections :
1.	The inquiry into the idea and nature of disease.
2.	The doctrine of the causes of diseases in general, or Gene-
ral Etiology.
3.	The local relations of disease and the conditions of its
propagation in the organism.
4.	The relation of disease in regard to time, or the general
history of disease, its course, duration and termination.
These divisions are followed by an admirable historical view of
medical systems grouped into seven periods.
First period, from 500 to 100, B. C. The period of the
Pythagorean philosophy of nature. Second period, from 100,
B. C., to the beginning of the sixteenth century aftei’ Christ,
commonly under the influence of the corpuscular philosophy, and
ending with the regeneration of the empirical sciences. The
third period, from the beginning of the sixteenth to the seven-
teenth century, is characterised by the developmenPof the doc-
trines of Theophrastus Paracelsus. The fourth, which occupies
the first half of the seventeenth century, originates from the
advancement of Chemistry and Physics. The fifth, extending as
far as the commencement of the eighteenth century is the period
of reaction against the materialism of the foregoing period by the
systems of Hoffmann and Stahl, until their final overthrow by the
nervous physiology, which, in the sixth period, in the second
half of the eighteenth century disappeared again in its turn. The
seventh period, the one in which we now live, Prof. Ilenl^j regards
as originated by Schelling’s Philosophy of Nature, which gave
rise to the so-called natural, historical, and pathologico-anatomical
schools.
After a consideration of the systems, the subject proper of
General Pathology is taken up. The first, second, and third
chapters, are devoted to the definition of disease, the nature of
disease, and to morbid processes. The next subjects considered,
are the properties of Irrritation, Reaction, and Restitution.
We should be glad, if our limited space permitted, to notice each
chapter in succession. We can only, however, mention the most
important points contained in some of them.
In the chapter on hereditary quality our author distinguishes
between generated or begotten diseases, and hereditary or inher-
ited diseases ; the latter being not merely a propagation, but also
a repetition of the disease of the parents. Diseases, he thinks,
are inherited from both parents, but the preponderance of one
side may destroy the influence of the other, and lessen and ob-
literate a morbid predisposition. The chapter on Sympathy and
Antagonism is very interesting and important. The remarks on
the structure of the nervous system are of inferior interest. We
cannot refrain from noticing a very singular view’ expressed in
the chapter on Sympathies of Cellular tissue, as to the produc-
tion of cutis anserina, namely,—that it is a spasm of the skin ;
this must evidently have been written before the researches of
Prof. Kolliker on that subject were published. Prof. Henld
admits a rhythm for all diseases, but denies anything like a
crisis, which he considers a most tenacious relic of the mythical
beginnings of the science of medicine. In the terminal chapter
on the signs of death, he distinguishes actual death from appa-
rent death, by the complete loss of tone and irritability, and
therefore proposes irritation by electricity as the only means ap-
plicable in doubtful cases; cold he found accelerated the rigor
mortis.
So much for the topics treated of in the work. The style is
attractive ; the language is good, but in some places rather fanci-
ful and not very clear, as the following passage will show:
“ The devil of medicine is disease, or in more scientific language,
the morbid irritant, the materia peccans, the penetrating noxiousness,
the morbid organism. Between the medical and the theological devil,
according to biblical notices and old wives’ fables, there exists not a mere
analogy but a complete identity ; the delirious ravings of the possessed
are the language of the evil spirit who possesses.”
The whole manner, however, in which the subjects are treated
of, and some of the mysteries of a diseased organism explained,
bears evidence to its being the work of a highly talented and
cultivated mind. If a love for theory may have carried the au-
thor sometimes a little beyond his subject, we must bear in mind
that this fault is a national German peculiarity. The work is
excellent, and will prove a great addition to our Medical Litera-
ture.
As regards the translation, we can say, after having carefully
compared it with the original, that Dr. Preston has fulfilled his
difficult task with zeal and care. We hope he will continue his
labors, for this treatise on General Pathology forms but a part of
Prof. Henld’s original work.	D. C.