PREFACE.
Much has been ably written on Death, and on the physiology of the various modes of Dying, by Bichat, Alison, Wilson Philip, Symonds, and others; while but little has been written on the medical management of the Dying; or on the Euthanasia, to which such management should contribute. A short but valuable essay of less than twenty pages, “On the Treatment of the Dying”, by Dr. Ferriar, of Manchester, in 1798: and a very elegant academical oration, of about the same length, at my own alma mater, Leyden, in 1794, by Professor Paradys, “Oratio de Εὐθανασία Naturali; et quid ad eam conciliandam Medicina valeat”:—comprise all I know that has been written specially on these subjects in modern times.
Sir Henry Halford, who was confessedly a master in all that concerns the management of the Dying, did much by his example and counsel to commend the subject to the attention of his medical brethren. But the generation he personally influenced has passed away. His little volume of “Essays and Orations” contains much on this subject that is very valuable, and not to be found elsewhere. But his remarks are unconnected; they occur incidentally in the course of his various essays, and are now but little known. They were the result of an experience so large, and so carefully thought out, that I have been glad to adduce them, whenever I could, in support of, or in addition to, what I have had myself to state, on the delicate and difficult subjects considered in the following pages.
40, Finsbury Square.
Sept. 24, 1887.