SYLLABUS 
OF 
THE COURSES OF LECTURES 
ON THE 
THEORY AND PRACTICE OF PHYSIC 
AND 
ON OBSTETRICS 
AND 
THE DISEASES OF WOMEN AND CHlLFftp*' 
DELIVERED 
IN THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW-YORE. 
DAVID HOSACK, M. D. 
Professor of the Theory and Practice of Physic, and of Obstetrics, and the Diseases 
of Women and Children. 
Printed by Van Winkle, Wiley & Co., Printer to the University. 
JYEW-Y ORK: 
1816. LECTURES 
ON 
THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 
Introductory to the practical subjects which this course 
embraces, and for the benefit of those pupils who may be 
beginning, or may have recently entered upon, the study 
of medicine, Dr. Hosack commences by exhibiting a com- 
pendious view of the structure of the human body; more 
especially directing the attention of his pupils to the various 
functions it performs in a state of health, including those 
appertaining to the mind as well as the body. 
In this view, particular attention is given to those func- 
tions which physiologists have denominated the natural func- 
tions of the system. Under this head, the various excre- 
tions, both as regards their influence in health, as well as 
the changes they undergo by disease, receive that attention 
which their importance demands. 
The causes of disease, whether inherent in the system, or 
produced by the operation of external agents, are next 
enumerated. 
The influence of climate, soil, food, sleep, cloathing, ex- 
ercise, both mental and bodily, the passions of the mind, 
the functions peculiar to the different sexes, the various 
trades and occupations of life, in as far as they are either 
directly or indirectly the sources of disease, are severally 
noticed in this part of the course: as the subject of cli- mate embraces circumstances equally interesting to the 
philosopher and physician, particular attention is given to 
the influence which it exerts upon the bodily and intellectual 
powers of man. In connection with this discussion, due 
regard is also paid to the sensible and adventitious qualities 
of the atmosphere, and their agency in the production of 
endemic and epidemic disorders. Dr. Hosack next in- 
quires how far the functions of the constitution possess in 
themselves the power of removing diseases, as ascribed to 
them by most of the ancient, and by some modern, physi- 
cians ; and concludes the preliminary part of the course 
with an outline of that preparatory knowledge which it is 
necessary for the physician to possess when he approaches 
the bedside of the sick. 
He next proceeds to a description of the various diseases 
to which the human frame is exposed, arranging the whole 
in such manner as he conceives best calculated to assist the 
student in acquiring a knowledge of the characters of each, 
the causes which produce them, and the means to be em- 
ployed for their prevention and cui-e. With this view, Dr. 
Hosack distributes diseases into the eight following classes : 
1. Febres, (Fevers,) embracing the various forms of 
Intermitting, 
Remitting, and 
Continued Fevers. 
2. Phlegmasia, (Inflammations,) containing all diseases 
of an inflammatory nature. 
3. Cutanei, (diseases of the skin,) in which all the cuta- 
neous diseases are arranged agreeably to the orders adopted 
by Dr. Willan, and the more recent modifications of Dr. 
Bateman. 
4. Projluvia, (discharges,) including all hemorrhages, as 
well as the morbid discharges which take place from the 
excretory organs of the system. 
5. Supjjressionesf (suppressions,) or those diseases which consist in a suppression or diminution of the natural eva- 
cuations. 
6. Neuroses, (nervous diseases,) embracing all those which 
more especially reside in the nervous system, including the 
various diseases of the mind as well as those of the body. 
7. Cachexia, (vitiations,) the diseases more peculiarly 
arising from a morbid condition of the fluids of the system ; 
including those which arise from their redundance, either 
general or partial, as the various forms of dropsy, and those 
disorders which proceed from a vitiated state of the circu- 
lating mass. 
8. Locales, (local diseases,) containing tumours, disloca- 
tions, wounds, ulcers, and other diseases usually denomi- 
nated local.* 
Having pointed out the objects and advantages of this 
nosological arrangement, Dr. Hosack proceeds to delineate 
the various diseases which it comprehends. 
The subject of fevers, which fall under the daily obser- 
vation of every practitioner, and which derive peculiar im- 
portance from the epidemics with which the United States 
have been visited since the year 1791, receives especial 
notice in this course. 
When describing the treatment of diseases, Dr. Hosack 
not only minutely details the remedies to be prescribed, 
their mode of operation, and the different stages in which 
they are severally indicated; but the diet and regimen of 
the sick, including all those circumstances which have an 
influence upon the character of diseases, and which it is 
equally the duty of the physician to direct, are also em- 
braced in this course of Lectures. 
• For a view of the details of Dr. Hosack’s classification, see the Amer% 
Med. and Phil. Reg. vol. ii. p. 270. Its advantages will also be pointed out 
by the author in a more extensive w ork on this subject, which, in a short time,- 
will be submitted to the class. MIDWIFERY 
AND 
THE DISEASES OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN. 
This course, as taught in the College of Physicians and 
Surgeons, not only embraces the delivery of women in child- 
bed, but comprehends the diseases peculiar to pregnancy, 
those attendant upon parturition, those which succeed to de- 
livery connected with the puerperal state, and the diseases 
of early infancy, especially those which occur during the 
month. 
Dr. Hosack commences this course with a description of 
the bones of the pelvis, noticing their sexual characteristics, 
form, situation, dimensions, connexions with each other, 
and the other parts of the body, including a comparative 
view of the dimensions and structure of the head of the 
foetus ; at the same time illustrating, by an extensive collec- 
tion of preparations, the various deformities of the pelvis, 
and their effects upon labour. He next proceeds to a de- 
scription of the soft parts connected with the pelvis, point- 
ing out their structure, relative situation, connexion, the 
changes which take place in consequence of pregnancy, the 
vessels which supply them, and the nerves which are distri- 
buted upon them, necessary to be known to the accoucheur. 
Having described the anatomical structure both of the 
external and internal organs of generation, he notices their various functions, the diseases to which they are liable, and 
the treatment they severally demand. The numerous dis- 
eases connected with menstruation are particularly treated 
of in this part of the course. 
The gravid uterus, embracing a view of the changes in- 
duced by impregnation; the signs of conception ; the struc- 
ture and growth of the ovum ; the circulation of the fostus, 
and that which takes place between the mother and child, 
come next under consideration. The changes produced in 
the system by pregnancy, the diseases attendant upon it, and 
their mode of treatment, including the premature expulsion 
of the foetus, and the treatment of those accidents which are 
frequently attendant upon abortion, are then fully detailed. 
In the second part of the course, the premonitory signs 
of labour, the changes which take place during the process 
of parturition, and the diseases it occasionally produces, are 
next enumerated. 
The several stages and progress of a natural labour; the 
different classes of labours, the characteristic symptoms 
of each, and their peculiar treatment, are then minutely de- 
scribed and illustrated upon the machine. 
The regimen, or management of women, in child-bed, the 
diseases which are frequently attendant upon, or succeed to, 
parturition, and the diseases of the new-born infant, consti- 
tute the third part of the course. 
On the Theory and Practice of Physic, Dr. Hosack 
meets his class' daily throughout the session. The Lec- 
tures on midwifery and the diseases of women and children, 
are delivered at a separate hour, tzvice a week.