Yes, "Why?" A man's strength is in his blood, Samson notwithstanding. Then
if you take away his blood, you lessen his chances of recovery, because
you have lessened his strength.
"_Cum sanguinem detrahere oportet, deliberatione indiget_," said Aretæus,
a Greek physician of the first century. ("When bleeding is required, there
is need of deliberation.")
"_Cur?_" (why) was a favorite inquiry of Dr. Abernethy's.
"We recollect a surgeon being called to a gentleman who was taken suddenly
ill. The medical attendant, being present, asked the surgeon,--
"'Shall I bleed him at once, sir?'
"'_Why_ should you desire to bleed him?'
"'O, exactly. You prefer cupping?'
"'Why should he be cupped?'
"'Then shall I apply some leeches?'
"This, too, was declined. In short, it never seemed to have occurred to
the physician that neither might be necessary; still less that either
might therefore prove mischievous."