NOSU LOOY (from ekes and royos) is the term applied to the classification and arrangement of diseases. It was early found in the observation of the symptoms of disease, that many of thorn recurred again and again, and this led to the assigning to such groups of symptoms particular names. Thus we find that the term fever was early applied to designate a certain set of symptoms, and, as any of these symptoms preponderated, the fever obtained a specific name, as putrid fever, petechial fever, Sze. But not only were symptoms had recourse to for the purpose of distinguishing peculiar forms of fever, but the causes and the locality were frequently employed ; thus marsh, jail, hospital, and other fevers have been described. Ira this way the material, were early accumulated for the formation of a system of nosology. It was not, however, till comparatively modern times, that anything like a scientific system of arrangement was proposed. One of the earliest of these was that of Sativages, who, taking the most prominent symptoms of diseases aa his guide, divided them Into ten great classes which he named Vitis, Febres, Phlegmmaske, Spasini, Anhelationes, Debilitates, Dolores, Vesanite, Fluxus, and Cachexite. Under these classes were arranged various orders : thus, under the first class 'Witte, he arranged the orders, Macuf:e, Efiloroseentire, I'hymata, Excreseentim, Cystldes, Ectopire, Plagre. The order Maculae was divided into the diseases Leucoma, Vitiligo, Ephelia, Outta roses, nevus, and Ecehymoma. This classification of diseases was followed by those of Linnaeus, Vogel, Sager, and 31acbride, but in their arrange ments they all recognised the same principle of classification as Sauvages, and made their division of diseases to depend on the greater or less prominence of particular symptoms. All these systems, were, huwever, supplanted by that of Cullen, which he promulgated in the second edition of his' Synopsis Nosologicie 3lethotheie."rhe following plan will give an idea of its structure :— It was the simplicity of this system which recommended it to general adoption, and which has caused it to exercise so great an influence over other systems of pathology. At the same time it will be seen that this and the previous systems are purely artificial, and frequently bring together diseases of a very dissimilar character. Such systems have also led to the impression that diseases have a character as definite as the objects of natural history, and that's species in the one can be as easily defined as the species of another.
But it becomes evident, after a little inquiry, that, with the exception of those diseases that depend on a specific contagion, no part of the idea of a species as applied to plants or animals can be made use of to designate particular diseases.
With the progress of a sound knowledge of physiology and pathology, many attempts have been made to give a more natural arrangement of diseases than that of Cullen. Dr. Mason Good divided diseases into the following six classes :— CLASS I.—Cal/acct. Diseases of the digestive functions. CLASS I L—Pneumatica. Diseases of the respiratory function. CLess ILL—Ramat/ca. Diseases of the sanguineous function. Ccass IV.—Neurotica. Diseases of the nervous function. CLASS V.--Genetica. Diseases of the sexual function. CLASS VL—Eccritiea. Diseases of the excernent function.
This system, however successful it may be regarded in its primary divisions, was too technical in its details to be very generally employed. One of the most simple of natural classifications founded on patho logical distinctions is that of Pinel, who divides diseases into fevers, inflammations, hemorrhages, neuroses, and organic affections.
The necessities of the statist have introduced a nosology in Eng land, which in a little time is likely to supplant all others. Already parts of this system have been adopted by medical writers, and in one instance, an entire treatise on medicine has been founded on it, so that although it has not yet found its way into the bulk of medical treatises, there can be no doubt that it is destined to exercise a considerable influence in the classification of disease. The system is that of Dr. William Farr, and is the one adopted by the Registrar General in his weekly, quarterly, and annual reports on the mortality of London and England.
who made wills (Shepherd's Tourlatorte, vol. ii. 407, Preston's ed.); but the attorney and conveyancer have now got possession of this part of their business. In practice their business is now limited to the attestation of deeds and writings for the purpose of making them authentic in other countries, but principally such as relate to mer cantile transactions. It is also their business to snake protests of bills of exchange. They also receive and take the affidavits of mariners and masters of ships.