Athothis : a satire on modern medicine / by Thomas C. Minor.

of the disease in the patient's head; but cast your spiritual vision not only over the cerebral mass contained in the cranium, but likewise glance at the contents of the thoracic cavity. Notice how the vessels of the brain are enlarged and distended; but, above all, observe the disturbed action of the sick man's heart. See the left- sided hypertrophy of the latter organ—watch its rapid pulsations and how at every systole the tension on the arteries of the brain is increased. If the patient is not soon relieved some vessel in the cerebrum will be rup- tured, and what will follow ?" " Apoplexy and consecutive paralysis," responded Paulus Androcydes, eagerly watching the disturbed vital action in the human organism before him. " Ah! here is the woman with the basin," said Athothis. "Now, carefully observe the action of this wise old country practitioner." Dr. Rusticus now handed the basin to the attentive student, and asked the farmer to grasp the side rounds of his chair firmly ; then, with a rapid motion, plunged a bright thumb lancet into the median cephalic vein of the farmer's right arm. A stream of dark red blood spurted from the opening, and fell into the uplifted basin. " "Why, this must be venesection! " exclaimed Paulus Androcydes, excitedly. " "T is the first time in my pro- fessional career that I have had the pleasure of witness- ing this operation of antiquity." " Alethought 'twas one of the lost arts," murmured Athothis. " Yet bleeding is one of the most valuable therapeutic agents ever given to mankind." " I always agreed with Van Helmont that blood-letting is injurious," observed Paulus Androcydes, softly. " Van Helmont was a mere imitator of Erasistratus,"