Date posted: April 18, 2012  Dr Achamma Lenu Thomas  Medicine in
the 18th century Even in the 18th century the search for a
simple way of healing the sick continued. In Edinburgh the
writer and lecturer John Brown expounded his view that there
were only two diseases, sthenic (strong) and asthenic (weak),
and two treatments, stimulant and sedative; his chief remedies
were alcohol and opium. Lively and heated debates took place
between his followers, the Brunonians, and the more orthodox
Cullenians (followers of William Cullen, a professor of medicine
at Glasgow), and the controversy spread to the medical centers
of Europe.   By the 18th century the medical school at Leiden
had grown to rival that of Padua, and many students were
attracted there from abroad. Among them was John Monro, an army
surgeon, who resolved that his native city of Edinburgh should
have a similar medical school. He specially educated his son
Alexander with a view to having him appointed professor of
anatomy, and the bold plan was successf