V HOKEOPATHIA, with RELATED SUBJECTS. FROM VARIOUS WRITERS, ,n w ■-■;;,-j TROY: PRESS OF THE NORTHERN BUDGET, No.6.State street. 1847. % WHK 1641 ,Vh> (.P J> g-g~- J+C>*y, 7 HOMOEOPATHIA. IIOM(EOPATHIA. With Related Subjects. In relation to the interesting and important sub ject of curing the diseases to which the human system is liable, no one will deny that there is now, as ihere ever has been, a disposition to assign too great powers to individual remedies, or to attach too great importance to some particular theory ex- plaining the action of medicines on the body. To nssume that the real mode in which medicines ef- fect disease is understood, is to assume a degree of knowledge which may or may not belong to some futuieage. Our knowledge of the mannerin which the chemical action of substances within the hu- man body is modified by the principle of life, ia very imperfect; and hence, both truth and modes- ty require that in our deductions or theories, we go not beyond the sure and cautious limits of induc- tive reasoning. The observation of the different phenomena that take place within the body, con- stitutes what we call experience ; but the occur- rence of new phenomena often demolishes some old theory. The attempt to cure all diseases by one remedy, or set of remedies, or the attempt to prove that all remedies act in consonance with some assumed principle, may justly be termed, riding a hobby.— But of all modes of hobby-horse riding, Homoeo- pathy, with its professed principles as indicated in the motto, similia similibus curautur, stands at the head. Dr. Connolly says, the inventor of this " surpasses all the heads of all the sects that ever flourished, or that have been forgotten, in the bold- ness of his assertions, the careless extravagance of his deductions, and the scorn with which he re- gards all whom he fails to persuade?; and, to speak of the opinions and practice of his followers, with- out departing from the ordinary style of medical discussion, is somewhat difficult." It seems proper in giving out the published opinions of distinguished medical men, on both sides of the Atlantic, in regard to a novel system of practice ihat has come to our shores with extra- ordinary pretensions, that tbose doctrines it rejects, as well as those it advocates, should be succinctly stated. For this purpose it is necessary to define several of those systems that have been supposed to govern physicians in prescribing rr.edicines for removing the symptoms of disease, hence called, fundamental methods of cure. In regard to the possible relation between the symptoms of diseases and the specific effects of medicines, it is said that there are only three imag- inable methods uf employing medicines against disease; these are denominated Antipathic, Allo- pathic, and Homoeopathic. These methodsare thus denned by Pereira, the best' modern writer on the Materia Medica: " Antipathia, or the palliative method, consists in employing medicines which produce effects of an opposite nature to the symptoms of the disease, and the axiom adopttfd is, contraria contrariis op- ponenda. Weadopt this practice when we employ purgatives to relieve constipation; depletives to counteract plethora ; cold to alleviate the effects of scalds ; narcotics to diminish pain; and opium to check diarrhoea." The HomceopathiSts object to antipathic reme- dies on the ground that, though the primary effects of these agents may be opposite to the phenomena of a disease, the secondary effects are similar to them. Constipation excited by opium, is followed by diarrhcea j and evacuations produced by pur- gatives, are succeeded by costiveness, which lasts several days. The only mode of meeting state- ments of this kind, is to appeal to experience. Is opium ever beneficial in diarrhoea 7 Are purgatives useful in any instances of constipation 1 The Ho» moeopathists reply to both of these questions—No. We answer—Yes. Here, then, we are at issue with them on a matter of fact. Allopathia, or the heteropathic method, con- sists in the employment of medicines which give rise to phenomena altogether different or foreign (neither similar nor exactly opposite) to those of the disease. Under this head is included that mode of cure effected by what is called, counter- irritation ; that is, the production of an artificial or secondary disease, in order to relieve another, or primary one. It is a method derived from observe ing the influence which maladies mutually exert over each other. For example: it has been fre- quently noticed, that if a diarrhoea come on during the progress of some internal diseases, the latter arc often ameliorated, or perhaps rapidly disappear, - apparently in consequence of the secondary affec- tion. The result of observations of this kind would naturally lead to the employment of alvine evacuants in other analogous cases where diarrhoea did not spontaneously take place; and this practice Is frequently attended with beneficial results. The appearance of a cutaneous eruption is sometimes the signal for the disappearanceof an internal affec- tion ; and vice versa, ihe disappearance of a cutane- ous eruption is sometimes followed by disorder of internal organs. Here again, we have another rem- edy suggested, namely, the production of an arti- ficial disease of the skin, as by blisters, by an oint- ment oontaining*tartar emetic, or by other irrita- ting applications: a suggestion the advantage of 4 which experience has frequently verified. Disea- les, then, appear to have whit Dr. Pring calls ;i cu> rative relation with respect to each other, and we shall find that the greater part ol our most valua- ble and certain remedies operate on the principle of counter-irritation; thai is, th«y produce a seconda- ry disease, which is related to the primary one. Dr. Parry calls this the ewe of diseases by conversion. The efficacy of purgatives in affections ol the head is best accounted for by supposing that they ope- rate on the principle of counter-irritation. Blisters, cauteries, issues, moxa, and other remedies of this kind, are generally admitted to have a similar rnoJi* of operation. Kven the efficacy of bljo.l-leniug in inflammatory affections, is better explained by assuming that this agent induces s-ome new aci ion incompatible with the morbid action, than that it is merely a debilitant. One full ^blood-letting will sometimes put an immediate stop to inflammation of the eye ; and I have seen, even while the blood was flowing, the vascularity of the eye diminish, and from that time the disease progressively declin- ed. When to this fact we add, that the same dis- ease is often successfully treated by other, and even opposite remedies, such as mercury and stimulant applications, we find a difficulty in ex- plaining their beneficial agency, except by suppos- ing that they influence disease by 'some relation common to all of them. The older writers employed two terms, Revul- sion and Derivation; the first, where the secondary disease occurred in a part remote from the stat of the primary affection; the second, where the sec- ondary was produced in the neighborhood of the primary. For example, leeches, or blisiers.applied to the feet in apoplexy, were called revulsives ; applied to the head in the same disease, would be, derivatives. But revulsion, in their sense of the word, was only derivation ai a distant part. Using the term counter irritation in its most ex- tended sense, we see our list of agents producing this effect, is a most extensive one. It compre- hends emetics, purgatives, diffusible stimulants, mercury, blisters, cauteries, issues, setons, moxa, arteriotomy, cupping, venesection and leeches, ir ritaiing lavements, frictions, sinapisms, rubefa- cients, the hot and the cold baths, and even men- ial impressions. That is, all these agents excite some action in the system which has a relation (olten beneficial) with rhe morbid action; to use Dr. Parry's words, they cure disease by conversion. / Iloniceopathia. [From Pereira's Materia Medica.} The homoeopathic method of treating diseases consists in administering a medicine capable of producing effects similar to the ope to be removed. Hahnemann's first systematic account of thisdoci trine appeeared in 1810, in the Organon. The following, says Hahnemann, are examples of homoeopathic cures performed by the physicians of the old school. The English Sweating Sick- ness of 1415, which was sd fatal that it killed 99 out of 100 affected with it. could only be cured by the use of sudorifics. Dysentery is sometimes cured by purgatives. Tobacco which causes gid> diness, nausea, &c, has been found lo relieve these affeetious. Colchicum cares dropsy, because it diminishes the secretion of urine, and causes asthma in consequence of exciting dyspnoea. Scn-< na occasions colic, therefore it cure" this dfs^c*. Belladonna produces difficult respi.ation, bimniij; thirst, a sense of choking, together with a horror of liquids when brought near the patienr; a flush- ed countenance, eyes fixed and sparkling, on I an eager desire to snap at '.he bystanders; in short ;\ perfect image of that sort of dydronhobia which Sir Theodore de ftlayerne. Munch. Buchholz ai.d Neimicke assert they have completely cured by the use of this plant. Opium cures lethargy ami, stupor, by converting it into a natural sleep. Tho same substance is a cure for constipation. Vacci- nation ii a protection trom small pox on homoeo- pathic principles. The best application to Iroat- bitten pprts is cold. In burns or seaMa, the be*t means of relief are the exposure of the part to heat, or the application of heaied spiiit ol wine, or oil of turpentine. Hahnemann thijiks it is of little importance to endeavor to elucidate, in a scientific manner, how the homoeopathic remedy effects a cure. The principal tads to be urged against this doc- trine may be reduced to four heads. 1st. Sorueof our best and most certain medi- cines cannot be regarded as homceopathK; ilma sulphur is incapable of producing scabies, or ihu itch, though Hahnemann asserts U produces an eruption analogous to it. Andral took quinia in the requisite quantity, but without acquiring inter- mittent fever; yer no peison can doubi ihe tact of thegreat benefit frequently derived from the ems ployment of this agent in ague; the paroxysms cease, and the patients seem cured. "But" sayi Hahnemann, are the poor patients really cured in these cases? All il\a,t can be said is, that they. seem to be so; but it would appear according to. this homceopathist, that patients do not know when they are well. We are also told, lhat when- ever an iru?trmittent resembles the effects of cin- chona, then, and not till ihen, can we expect a cure. I am afraid, if this were true, very few agues could be cured. Acids and vegetable diet cure scurvy, but I never heaid of these means causing a disease analogous to-it. 2nd. In many cas»8, homoeopathic remedies would only increase the original disease; and wo can readily imagine the ill effects that would arise from the exhibition of acrjds in gastrins, or of can- tharides in inflammation of the bladder, or, of mer- cury in spontaneous salivation. 3rd. The doses in which these agents are exhib- ited are so exceedingly small, ihat it is difficult to believe they can produce any effect on the system, and therefore, we may infer that the supposed homoeopathic cures are referrible to a natural and spontaneous cure, aided, in many cases, by a strict attention to diet and regimen. What effect can be. expected from one or two deciliionth pans of a drop of laudanum? Hahnemann says it is foolish to doubt the possibility of thai which really occurs; and adds1, ihat the sceptics do not consider tho rubbing and shaking bestowed upon the homceo^ pathic preparation, by which it acquires a wonder- ful development of power! 4th. Homcepnthia has been fairlv put to the lest of experiment by some of the members of the Acade- mie de Medicine, and the result was afailure. An- dral tried it on 130 or 140 patients in the presence of homceopathists themselves, adopting every re- quisite care and precaution, vet :n not one instance was he successful. (See Mcaicai Gazette, -\ol xv. p. 922 ) \ D Why not try it 1 This question was put to a medical man hy a Homoeopath. The London Lancet has given an answer ready to our hand •'The medical p ofession has been asked recently, to make afew millions of experiments on the sick entrusted 10 theircare, for the purposed) obtain.ng a "natural history of disease*;" we have been ask- d to look for a while upon our hospitals as museums, upon the sick lieds as cabinets, and upon our pa- tients as specimens, 10 be studied and analyzed in- stead ol treated ;'irI n lieved; and the profession has felt indignant ai the proposal. If it depend upon medical men, there never can, and there never will be. a na'ural history of diseases, for there never will be found amongst us men dishonest enough to allow disease to run on its "natural" and de- structive course, so as to trace its "natural his- tory." Nor will mankind ever derive from us, as a body- however treacherous individual members mav be— the uppoi»ite benefit of learning how much, and on what statistical numbers, the human frame can endure riolenee and rash experiment. Our pro- fession as a body, is equally incaparle ot a ba^e and deceptive inactivity, or of a system of reckless experiment. In the eyes of none of the communi- ty is human life so sacre 1 as in those of the m-di- cal profession. We engage to treat disease : the (piack promises to cure. He begins with a, lie. and in the ni«ntal confidence born of this lying, lies Ins only remedy. Now, if ever a question * rise involving the char- acter of a physician, or surgeon, or general practi- tioner, are not the whole world against him to a in in 7 Our students are caricatured, and the vices of profligate youth are put upon ihe voung medical man as a matter of joke. But let there arise a quackery, no matter how silly from its noth • ingness, homoeopathy, for instance; or how dan- gerous Irom its violence—as hydropathy; or how immoral—as mesmerism, which proposes to de- stroy the self-control of our women; and a crowd, —princes, peers, divines, lawyers, and litterateurs —rush in ignorantly, ana laud its lying wonders to the skies; ana not content with this, in their vain and foolish attempts to raise the quat'kery, they exhaust themselves in calumny towards the members of a laborious, conscientious and benefi- cent profession. But the existence ot such a mon- strous state as ihia must react prejudicially, to some extent upon medical men, however desirous they may be to act uprightly. If individual mem bers of ourprofession ever do administer remedies unduly, have not the public to thank themselves tor it ? Do they not act so as to goad medical men to it ? Do they not insist upon having draughts and pills for their money ? Are they coniented with medical visits and attention, and such medi- cines as our unbiassed skill suggests? Do they not, when tin practitioner sends in an honorable demand for his best, kindest, wisest efforts, demand a Kill 1 And where this is the case, is it not that now, as with Romeo's apothecary, our poverty ra- ther than our will consents ? We would be noble and generous, but we are repelled by the state ot thp public mind. In this way, the life of a con- scientious medical man is a constant struggle be- tween good and evil influences. No men have greater power or are exposed to greater temptations, and none are so free from ac- cusation, or rsven suspicion, as medical men. The »niy crime of which persons having degrees or di- plomas are guilty, hen been the abandonment of true and legitimate medicine, ftnd the adoption of some cour-e of quackbrv or irregularity of proceed*. ing; and these spots we set ourselves to efface Irom the fair page of the history of medicine. That the profession is beneficent, is easily proved from the well known fact, that taking the aggre- gate population of the kingdom, quite as much medical attention and ski I are given to the poor bv the profession, as are paid for by ihe wealthier clashes; that is, fully one half of the time, labor ami skill of the medical body are rendered to the com- munity giatuj ously. We often expose our lives in the dissecting room, in hospitals, and among the sick poor in their own dwellings; and refuse not, from feai ofdeath to ourselves, or those d«ar to us, to visit tho patient affected with Cholera, or ihe plague itself. So incomprehensible is this self- sacrifice and exposure, that the common people have never believed in its reality; they are firmly convinced that the faculty are able lodetend them- selves Against infection or contagion of any kind. In view of these things, we feel justified in declar- ing that the relations which subsist between th« members of the medical profession and the public are extraordinary." Extracts from an Address by John Stearns, M. D., President of the N. York Academy of Medi- cine, at their first meeting, Feb. 3d, 1947. " Reason teaches us that the power of any re- medial agent esseniially depends on the number of grains, ounces, or pounds of which ihat agent con- sists. But Hahnemann contradicts this position, and maintains directly the reverse, and asserts that ihe power of that agent is increased precisely in proportion to.the subdivision, comminution, or di- lution of its component parts. To illustrate this, I will cite an analogous case. If one pound of gunpowder will propel a cannon ball one mile, the millionth part of a grain would carry it around the globe. The same remarks are. applicable to steam, and to all other agents of eim^ ilar power. Well might Hahnemann forbid his pu- pils to reason or to theorize on his principles They have hitherto rigidly adhered to his injunction. Poisons and narcotics constitute the corner stone of the homoeopathic edifice. Deprived of these, tfieir whole system of Materia Medica would bede- moiished. The alleviation of pain by narcotics given to their practice all its popularity. » * ♦ I have often heard it asserted that the clergy are. advocates of Homoeopathy, but this charge is too inconsistent with their profession to admit of be- lief. How can a religious man support a system which places reason and common sense ai defiance, and which rests exclusively on the vagaries of a vi- sionary enthusiast? If the clergy, like Hahne- mann, repudiate reason, how are they to prove the truth of our holy religion, the existence of a God, and a future state of retribution ? It is a most fonunate occurrence for the purity and high character of the medical professii n, that its assailants have abandoned the regular practice, and have identified themselves with those ramifica- tions of empiricism which require no medical ed»- cation, no seminaries of learning, nor any qualifi- cations for practice. Should ihe residue of this class follow the example of their associates, and assume the practice of Homoeopathy or any other imposture—then would the profession shine forth in all its appropriate lustre, like gold wej^l refined. Then would the abuses, of mercury, now tueh a 6 prolific theme for calamny, cease to be.charged upon the profession; the tongue ujfljander would be pa- ralyzed, and the fragile system of quackery annihi- lated. Extracts from an Address: before the Miw. Medical Soci- ety in 1641, by EDVVAKD KE V ,\ol,D-5, M. D. It would not be an unreasonable expectation that the extension of medical light to the community should abate the prevalence of medical folly, except for the fact that ihi fountains of human credujiiy, flowing on in undiminished fulness lor six thou- sand years, are evidently inexhaustible. The pres- ent period is equally noted for medical improve- ment and medical folly. The most remarkable of the various systems so called, which, emanating from the profession itself present their claims to the notice of a believing community, is Homoeo- pathy; a system ''which sets aside all former ob- servation ; contradicts all former experience; up- sets not only all theory, but all facts; declares war against the inductive science ; and acknowledges no organic alterations." A system which gravely tells us that diseases and their causes are not ma- terial, but immaterial changes in oui*elves; that there IS nothing in them mechanical or chemical; that they do not depend upon a morbid material principle, but are only partial alterations of a spirit- ual, or, as Hahneman sometimes calls it, synonim- ously. dynamic life That the only real, fundamental and productive cause of all prop*?- or natural chronic diseases, (all Buch as are not produced by allopathy,) such as the numberless forms ranging under the name of ner- vous weakness, hysterics, hypochondriasis, imbe- cility, mania, epilepsy, spasms of all kinds-rickets, caries, cancer, fungus haematodes, gout, haemor- rhoids, jaundice, dropsy, amenorrhea, haemor- rhage from the stomach, nose, lungs, bladder or uterus, asthma, abscess of the lungs, sterility, deafness, cataract, gravel, paralysis, lameness and pains of a thousand kinds, is nothing more or less than the itch. That all others not falling within the legitimate sphere of this great productive cause, are generated by the miasma of syphilis or sycosis. That ihe only mode of curing any of these, is by the administration of infinitesimal doses of some agent, which, given in health, would produce the disease. That these doses to be effectual must be infinitesmal—the more the better,—at all events, as inf nitesmal as the millionth or decillionth part of a grain. Nay, even the aura continually slream- ing-from one of the little sugar granules, weighing only the hundreth part of a grain, and contained in the tiny Homoeopathic bottles, where it has been drying twenty years, will retain all its strength du- ring that long period, provided the bottle has not been uncorked for use oftener than 1000 times, and, snuffed up into the nostrils, it will be found as pow- erful as the real Homoeopathic granule itself, and carried in the pocket ready for use on all occasions, will relieve the patient of all need both of druggist and doctor for the remainder of his days. That the powers of the medicine become devel- oped in proportion to the minuteness of the dose and the friction or sheck communicated by the shakes from above, downward, if liquid; or by the amount of rubbing, if solid. Such is the mighty influence of the shakes and the friction thus com- municated to the medicine, that the cautious au- thor warns us never lo exceed ten energetic shakes in the former case, and the period- of one hour in the latter. Indeed, he cautions us against the sha- king of the medicine ever after, if unwittingly car- ried about'in the pocket, and says that a more abun- dant experience and close observation have at l.st taui^ht him that to obtain the necessary power or a > dr»p containing the millionth or decillionth part ot a erain of medicine, two shakes are actually as good as ten,-ol the truth of which we have no manner of doubt. Such are the chief elements of this system as gathered from the uncommon dialect of the Orga- iion. Its progress is only another evidence of the extreme credulity in medical matters that has formed the feature of every aee; the morbid love of ihe marvellous, which characterizes a certain portion of every community, by no means the least informed; the slowness with which medical knowl- edge finds its way to the public mind; and the readiness with which the sick sieze upon any sys- tem however absurd, which like this, has expunged ihe word vicurable from its vocabulary. It is probably destined, like all other kindred spe- cies of medical linmbuggery, to have its run ; and alter heaping another full measureof ridicule upon the healing art, to transmit, at its death, as a com- pensation for the temporary injury inflicted upon a noble profession, more abundant proofs of the suc- cessful manner in which nature triumphs, under a regulated diet, over many diseases, without the help of art. Kiom a careful observation of human nature, we have long since ceased to wonder at any credulity of the sick, however great its amount or its absur- dity. But that any well educated physician of the present day should be. found among the believers or the propagators of such "mystical nonsense," excites our surprise, and must form an apology lor occupying the attention of the reader with it. From the Annalist of Nov. 1,184C, published in N. York- Mr. Editor,—I will furnish you a lew extracts from my common-place book, illustrating the fruits of homoeopathic practice, recorded at the time of their occurrence, omitting names and dates, as our business is with "principles, not men." 1. Was called to see a child cf three years, suffer- ing from convnlsions of great severity, and nearly 3 hours continuance. During all this time, ahomcao- patbistoflhe highest reputation among the sect had been present, and failing to afford any relief, he bad yielded to the importunity of the mother, and solicited my attendance. I learned from him that he had exhausted the resources of his art, and anticipated an early fatal result; ascribing the mala- dy to cephalic (brain) disease, and talking learnedly about spinal and nervous irritation. Without hold- ing any consultation with him in relation to path- ology or treatment, I inviied him to remain if he chose, whilst I should demonstrate ,the speedy re- sults of rational medicine. I forthwith administer. edan emetic, which immediately removed from the stomach, half a pint or more of chestnuts, which ihe child had eaten during the day, when the spasms were at an end, and the relief so instanta- neous and entire ihat the patient rose, called for a drink, and recovered without an untoward symp- tom. To ward oft",the rebuke of the indignant mother, the doctor affirmed his belief that nature would have cured the child, by expelling the inges- ta without any emetic, if his infinitesimal doses had only been persisted in a few hours longer; ac- knowledging, however, that he had been mistaken in prescribing for the brain and spine, when the source of the mischief was* in ihe belly. 7 2. Was called to visit in the family of a homoeopa- thic practitioner of high repute, and informed that two deaths had occurred within a few hours, from scarlatina, treated secundum artem, by seve- ral of the same sect, reliance being had, as usual, upon aconite and belladonna. For special reasons, I declined going to the house, but by my direction, the young man was bled, leeched, blistered, and took two active emetics, the throat being treated with capsicum and nitrate of silver locally applied by a medical man whose relation to the family gave him authority in the premises. This was the only instance of recovery in the family, another of the household being removed only to die. It has been my lot, no less than 13 times, to be called into families suffering under epidemic scar- latina, in each of which I found one coffin, and in three of them, two coffins lying in the house, en« closing the victims of the disease under aconite and belladonna at the time of my visit. Several of my professional brethren, to my knowledge, have similar testimony to give, and we spefck as wit- nesses, and not as disputants. Medicus. A New i*lan of Medical Reform. Extracts from>n article in the Boston Medical & Surgical Journal. Mr. Editor:—I think it a matter of regret, that many influential persons, fired by an ill-judged scientific zeal, have endeavored by sober argumen- tation and rules of logic, to demolish the prevailing systems of quackery. All past experience proves very conclusively, that to convince a man's judg- ment, when prejudices are enlisted on the opposite side, is a hopeless undertaking. * * * Our friends of the schools militant commence their attack upon quacks by the delaration of sun- dry sound and indisputable aphorisms—such as, " truths are stubborn things," &c. To this I reply, " and so are asses;" there is nothing more difficult than to drive one of these long-eared gentry one way when lie pertinaciously sets his mind upon travels ling another. * * .*.*.* *. The wrong plan has been adopted for the oppose tion of Homoeopathy. Denunciations have been forged, and hurled with thundering sound, but no effect, at the credulity which enshrouds men's fa«. culties, and leaves them blind and willing victims to the doctrine of infinitesimal doses. The system has been handled with rough ceremony, and the monstrous faith in less-than-nothing doses assailed with the fury and indignation usually excited by a threatenedinvasion of pecuniary interests; but the gaping croud still swallow the little powders, and Herr Homoeopath laughs in his sleeve, as he pock- ets the fat fees so easily fished from the pockets of credulous hypochondriacs and hysterical women. You are wrong, gentlemen! Cease your opposi- tion; admit the truth of Hahnemann's nonsense; nay, outstrip him in fertility of invention and de- ception. If a homoeopath tells you that a globule of sugar moistened with the 30th dilution of a given remedy, and applied to the nostrils of a pa- tient in extremis will relieve him; reply to him, and shout to the world that we have a remedy, so exquisitely powerful in its influence on the animal machine, and only known to allopathic physicians, that the same globule moistened with the 300th dilution (!!!) and applied to the nether end of a dead man will bring him to life! You must learn the game of brag, and always " go better." Try your best to persuade people that there is really nothing strange in homoeopathy compared with some half- hatched system with which you are about to astound the world. Catch the pig by the tail, and two to one, the "Dutch doctors" will soon be found upon some other hobby, denouncing their quondam fa- vorite as the most insignificant and irrational hoax that was ever attempted. So with hydropathy. If Priessnitz says that he cures his patients by pouring cold water by the gal- lon down their throats, turn up your noses at him, and tell him that you are much more successful by injecting buckets full of hot water up the other way. If he publishes tables of cases that show a success amounting to 75 percent, do you publish longer tables, and claim 95 per cent! Admitting that you do not adhere to veracity, and that you are charged with it; be thankful that it is so, raise the cry of persecution, and your fortunes are sure. * • Homoeopathy is a very popular delusion, and ex- ceedingly agreeable, if, like the man in the farce, called, "A ghost in spite of himself," we could only persuade ourselves of Its truth. Who would not rather be cured " cito et jucunde," by the sugar of milk, than to die, secundum artem, under the re- morseless fire of a regular practitioner's prescrip- tion 1 There has been a good deal of speculation about the origin of homoeopathy. I profess to be an observing man, and I think I can explain the mat- ter to the satisfaction of every reasonable man. You remember, doubtless, that in old times, peo- ple had no nerves. The old gentleman in the play said that he never had any in his life. Nerves and hysterics are things of modern invention. The " vapors" and the " blues" owe their existence to the conventionalities of fashionable society. The hyper-sensibility, which has, in these latter days, come to be considered as the indispensable of re- finement and fashion seems to have extended to the stomach and bowels. A while since, an honest, rousing dose of physic was required to make an impression on the sturdy organs of a patient—the rencontre between the doctor and the disease was a fair stand-up fight, soon ended with hard blows, and no favors asked. But the fashion of us mo- derns, which makes a man the creation of starched dickies, high heeled boots and tight waistcoats, the thing of a barber's brush and a tailor's yard slick; and angelic woman, a swaddling lusus—a hetero- geneous compound ot wads of cotton, French chalk, buckram, and strips of whalebone,has drawn so exquisitely fine the delicate cords of human sen- sibility, that the 30th ditation applied to the nose proves perfectly overpowering, There are thou- sands of persons now-a-days, who, under proper circumstances, can die Pope's aromatic death. Of course, they come to life again, modestly expecting the performance to be encored I Is it not obvious that Hahnemann's system is the offspring of necessity and of nerves 1 You would begin your reformation where it ought to end; if you restore mankind to a state of health, bodily and mentally, and blunt, by proper educa- tion, the morbid sensibility of Jthe nerves, homoeo- pathy will die a natural death. Besides all this, Mr. Editor; we profess to be a little wiser than our fathers. I fancy, sir, that we require something a little more pretending than sheep-saffron and barn-yard poultices, to suit the taste of the present generation. If we cure dis- eases by conjuration, which they encountered with the awful list of pills, potions and plasters ; why not ? We can even quote precedent for our practi- ces. There was a famous pili celebrated in Pinda- ric verse, Yjbich, with your permission, I will copy, s A bumpkin came among the rest, And thus the man of pill addressed ; 'Zur, hearing what is come to pass. That your fine pill hath cured the king, And able to do every thing. Think, Zur, 'twill make me find my ass ? I'veVost my ass, zur, zo should like to try it; If this be your opinion, zur, I'll buy it. 'Undoubtedly,' the quack replied, 'Yes, masterHob, it should be tried.' Then down Hob's gullet, cure or kill, The grand impostor pushed the pill. Hob paid his fee, and off he went; And travelling on about an hour, His bowels sore with pain were reut; Such was the pill's surprising power, No longer able to contain, Hob in a hurry left the lane— And sought the grove— where Hob's two eyes, Wide staring, saw with huge surprise, His long-eared servant Jack, his ass ! ! 'Adzooks ! a lucky pill,' quoth Hob ; 'Yes, yes, trie pill hath done the job.' Globules have discovered more a.ises in these' times than did Pindar's pills; and what is stranger, ali are affected with the mange, the Itch, or some thing worse I But, my good sir, this is not the fault of the system of Hahnemann. That fact does not condemn by any means, the sugar of milk, only the mal-practice and filthy habits of the times. We must do penance in mercury and sul- phur for past peccadilloes, and be thankful if this is the nearest acquaintance we are to have with brim- stone. Allopathy has done nothing more, we aie told, In 2500 years, than to discover these two spe- cifics, and homoeopathy, forsooth, must teach her to employ these properly.! It remains to be seen, what the "Young Physic" recently born under Dr. Forbes's obstetric management will accomplish. Until then, permit me lo subscribe myself with great respect, your ob't setvant. OLD PHYSIC. NLM027035335