ated forms of chronic diseases, the
correct diagnosis and successful treatment of which tax all the skill
possessed by the experienced specialist, the invalid will not be misled
into the dangerous policy of relying upon his own judgment and
treatment, but will be counseled not to postpone until too late, the
employment of a skillful physician.

The apportionment of space which is made in considering the various
diseases and their different stages, as well as the course which the
people are advised to pursue under the different circumstances of
affliction, is not always in accordance with the plans and
recommendations which have been made by others who have written works on
domestic medicine. Most of these authors have attempted, by lengthy
disquisitions, to teach their readers how to treat themselves without
the services of a physician, even in the most hazardous forms of
disease. In such dangerous maladies as typhoid, typhus, yellow, and
scarlet fevers, typhoid pneumonia, and many others, in which life is
imminently imperiled, such instruction and advice is decidedly
reprehensible, as it may lead to the most serious consequences. We are
confident, therefore, that the manner of disposing of the different
subjects which are discussed in the succeeding chapters, and the course
of action which is advised, will commend themselves to our readers as
being such as are calculated to promote and subserve their best
interests.

MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS.

Skill in the art of healing is indicated in three ways: (1.) by
ascertaining the _symptoms, seat_, and _nature_ of the disease, which is
termed _diagnosis_; (2.) by foretelling the probable termination, which
is termed _prognosis_; (3.) by the employment of efficacious and
appropriate remedies, which is called _treatment_. Of these three
requisites to a prosperous issue, nothing so distinguishes the expert
and accomplished physician from the mere pretender as his ready ability
to interpret correctly, the location, extent, and character of an
affection from its symptoms. By medical diagnosis, then, is understood
the discrimination between diseases by certain symptoms which are
distinguishing signs. Every malady is accompanied by its characteristic
indications, some of which are _diagnostic, i.e._, they particularize
the affection and distinguish it from all others.

Medical diagnosis is both a _science_ and an _art_; a science when the
causes and symptoms of a disease are unders