Page:The Harveian oration 1905.djvu/104

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100
THE HARVEIAN ORATION.

on the fact, first demonstrated by Woolridge, a distinguished Member of this College (whose early death, almost at the threshold of a most promising career, was such an irreparable loss to the medical profession and to science), that, in transfusion, only the increase in the quantity of circulating fluid in the vessels is really essential. As no doubt you are aware, the fluid may be injected into a vein, into the subcutaneous tissue-hypodermoclysis, or into the peritoneal cavity; or is administered per rectum. In these ways it is introduced, either directly or indirectly, into the vessels. It has been recommended to mix sugar with the solution, and for particular purposes brandy or strychnine may be added. Treatment on these lines is indicated for several purposes, and to the surgeon it has proved invaluable under various circumstances. Personally, I can testify to its potent influence in saving life in grave medical cases, especially after severe hæmorrhages, such as hæmoptysis, hæmatemesis from gastric ulcer, or intestinal hæmorrhage in connection with enteric fever. Indeed, I look upon the practice of infusion of saline fluid as one of the most important additions made to modern therapeutics in relation to the circulatory system.

6. Taking a comprehensive view of the therapeutics of the circulatory system, apart from the more direct methods and principles already indicated, it may be confidently affirmed that considerable practical