' ti v 7lo N A LECTURE, INTRODUCTORY TO A COURSE, OK THE SCIENCE OF LIFE, ORGANIZATION, &c, __________y . =y' BY SAMUEL ROBINSON. /J ? • * TO THE READER. This course of Lectures on the science of life and organization, is based, upon the principles of "Howard's Improved System of Botanic Medicine" and was prepared with an eye to simplicity and con- ciseness. A popular and general view of the human system was deemed at once interesting and desirable to those who wish to devote a portion of time to its study. But there is a higher object in this concise development of the structure of Man. It is designed to impress upot hi* heart, love and gratitude to God for the pos- session of a form so fearfully and wonderjully made: f And that his thankfulness be evinced4>y bis care for a work, which is the master' piece of all material things. * The man who loves God for his goodness, and himself as the image and glory of the uncreated Deity—his public manifestation and representative below—will be inclined to show ail due care, to preserve in its primeval beauty, a. form so admirable. If we can excite in man, this love to God and to himself; this fervent gratitude for a being so noble, and supreme and elevated; placed at the head of the creation, as the sublime display of Jehovah's power and goodness—we shall then have placed medi- cal science on a sure foundation. The invaluable endowments bestowed upon Man, preserved out of gratitude to God, that all his gifts may be improved in the best manner to his glory; "For God is paid when man recedes; To enjoy, is to obey." To enjoy life and all its blessings, and to exercise them accord- ing to the law of God, is to glorify him, and honor and obey him. And to preserve health with all due care, is essential to this enjoy- ment and obedience, and to that honor which we owe him for his distinguishing bounty. To v due the giver by his gift, we require to have some right apprehensions of its extent and magnitude. The divine care in forming the parts of Man and the skill in put- ting them together, so bountifully impressed in the countless worth of the finished frame, we have endeavored to delineate with brevity and perspicuity. It is not to be expected, that a full de- tail, of every item of all the parts, of magnitude and minuteness, which enter into the sublime structure of majestic Man, can be here unfolded! But enough is done to render the subject clear, 4 TO THE READER. and comprehensive, and it is believed that the subsequent work will prepare the mind to move with care and knowledge in "the administration of medicines to recover health; and, that a system of excellence and exquisite beauty is disclosed, in terms sufficient- ly conspicuous, to show that food, and nourishment, and remtdn s, should be administered, to preserve its harmony, and health, and sustain its being. It will be a consolation for many sorrows, to be engaged in filling up the plan of the benevolent Rush—placing medical knowledge within the reach of the people. Some may -demur—thousands will be saved; and "Gentle Health her golden wings expand." The tyrant, Dionysius punished Philoxenius for singing, and Plato for disputing, better than himself. If better remedies arrive than those which have been in general use, I am willing to bear freely the portion of the evil which may be ascribed to me. It is not the lot of man to pass without rebuke—but "Quid de me alii loqantur" frc. What others say of me, let them beware. SAMUEL ROBINSON. Cincinnati, March 1, 1832. INTRODUCTORY LECTURE. The pre-eminence of medical science, furnishes a sublime object on the general map of human knowledge. It comes to the mind recommended by all the felicities of life, by the joys of existence and the great sum ojf human liappiness, and human power, in the world below. Could it reach that lofty eminence, and proud distinction of other sciences, called perfect, to cure our diseases and heal our pains without fail, how great would be the enjoyment of life, and how vast the sum of human blessing! At this noble object it aims; and we shall not despair, but here it will arrive at last. The humble and industrious mind, led by the Deity, and im- proved by the indications of his works, may yet attain to tbat perfection of knowledge in medical wisdom, which shall render life a general blessing, and death, the dissolution of a tabernacle worn out by time and exhausted by slow decay. It shall be our duty and determination that what reinforce- ment we may obtain from hope, shall not be lost by irresolufcon or despair The mind was made for victor} ; and he that over- comers, shall wear the victor's crown. In this sublime scene of human knowledge, to pursue our course with success and certainty, we must keep in view, the operations of that mysterious power, which the Deity has placed in the living system, to repair and renovate its energies, when shattered by accident or worn down by disease. If, in the end, we. must "bow to the great teacher Death, and God adore;" let us in life bow to the great teacher, the vis medica- frix, and learn lessons of medical wisdom, which the Deity has thus placed before us in the mighty volume of his works! By the right use of reason, our success in the pursuit both of knowledge and of happiness depends. And by it, man is distinguished from the beasts that perish, in the most essential characteristics.of his nature. When it was found that a wound, merely bound un and a little cold water poured on it, healed better and quicker than by all the labored application of pompous surgery; the people thought there must be a charm in the water, or magic in the words. 19 & introductory lecture. It was the simple application of reason to the process and ope- rations of nature herself: her short and easy method of uniting her separated points, and repairing her broken texture, fell upon the mind with that conviction, which never more can be resisted. When clear and certain knowledge cannot be had, even in the dark, the mind is no.t left to grope like the blind. No; the mind is her own light, and life, and power, and penetration. She carries with her into the region of darkness, that inextinguishable torch of reason, which the Deity has bestowed upon her—and there finds a path to the conclusions of wisdom and the temple of truth. The subject of Mepical BotaVv, like every other science, may be branched off to infinity; but the nature of this particular scheme, and the single point of view, which we intend shall limit our re- searches, demand particular illustration. And it is due to that deference, which every man owes to public opinion, to state fairly and fully, the reasons which induce him to establish or promote a new system. Mr. Howard was agent for Dr. Thomson. He was drawn unwillingly into that agency, as he was already embarked in public business. But being once engaged, he entered with all his mind and strength, into the prosecution of an object, which he conceived to be of immense value to the human family. He had originally pursued the study of medicine, for the pur- pose of practice; but declined, from the dangerous tendency of the medicines in common use. On the trial of this new system of practice, he was convinced of the great safety and utility of the botanic medicine and method qj operation. , In order to diffuse its blessings, he entered largely into the du- ties of his office—encountered vast toil, exposure, and expense, that he might bring it into general notice; while he was thus con- scientiously and earnestly employed, jealousies were stirred up in the mind of Dr. Thomson, by interested persons, from motives that were not good, as he verily believes. The result was, Dr. Thom- son suddenly revoked his agency, and arrested his career in the full tide of his usefulness and rapid approach to the goal of his most ardent hopes and expectations. He was here brought to a full pause—What was his duty?—His friends urged him to go on— strangers urged him to go on—the monitor within urged him to go on and do good! The more he weighed and examined the subject, the more he was convinced of the absolute duty and propriety of prosecuting the practice with vigor. The system of medical botany was in its mere, infancy; it could not so remain. No system is stationary— It must advance—and if he did not advance it, it would be seized by some sciolist, who neither had the skill nor experience to which he might modestly and justly lay claim. introductory lecture. 7 He therefore, now, for himself, organizes this* system of medical botany, on distinctive principles, of gteat utility, and superior in- terests to all laboring nnder disease, and yet so as not to.infringe « on the rights or interests of any living man—as may be seen by an examination of the work itself, now presented in its order, arrange- ^ ment, and its abundant, and original matter.- It is a delicate.matter to do any thing that may even appear to . be wrong. Mr.Howard is, therefore, anxious, as every goo* man ought to be, that the public should be perfectly satisfied on this point; anfl perceive "that*he has truth and "justice to sustain him with a desire to bcne6t the human race—and leave behind him, if the Deity will please to grant him that distinction, the name of—Friend to the human family! Mr. Howard belongs to that society so famous for its practical wisdom and general benevolence—the society of Friends. And this itself, is a high recommendation in the opinion of good men. But there is another incident in Mr. H's history which is a matter of judicial record, and ought to have a prominent place, wherever his motives may be questioned or his integrity doubted. In his youth he was left in possession of a considerable amount of property, constituting the principal part -of his inheritance, which he subsequently came to the deliberate conclusion was incompatible with his duty to retain. And in resigning his right - he had no applause—no eulogy, nor note of fame to cheer him to his duty—nothing save the "still smaH voice" of conscience, and the living oracles of his God. And these were great, you say—they were great indeed! but in the time of which I am speaking, they were overwhelmed by the aoise, and pomp, and fashion of.the world. He was then young and without experience; and yet listened to the voice of the counsellor, "whatsoever ye would that.men should do to you, db ye even so to them." One whgse path in vouth, has been so distinctly marked by obedience to the divine will, in opposition to.the*~fashions of this world and the treasures of Egypt, will not now be left in his age, weary and old with service, to the over- shadowings of a conscience, darkened by dereliction. A fortune was here sacrificed in the morn of life, from love to. his fellow men. And should it be regained in the evening of his days, by the unwearied effort of doing them good, will it be re- garded unkind or disreputable? It is also justice to Mr. Howard, to menlion, that he does not assume any merit to himself for the sacrifice which he has made; nor does he, by any means, reflect upon others who have not felt it their duty to follow his example. He himself is a native of one of the southern States, and he well remembers, when he himself believed it right, to hold this kind of property: he believes that his own parents, who never divested themselves of it, were piou 8 introductory lecture. persons; and he has ever felt charitable towards those who still continue to posse.-s it. He believes that this subject must be left to the people of the southern States, to dispose of, under the gui- dance of Divine Providence, who is able to effect his own purpose in his own way. And he has therefore, ever believed it to be his duty to discourage all illegal and improper interference in this deli- cate matter: and the liberality of his general course has been such as to procure for him the friendship of his fellow »itizens; the confi- dence and patronage of the Government of tie United States, for many years," and subsequent!) the patronage of the Legislature of his adopted State, which contirues to the present time. It was the general opinion which was entertained of his charac- ter, and his large acquaintance over the United Stales, which induced Dr. Thomson, and the friends of his system generally, to insist on Mr. Howard's taking the agency and drawing ■hit attention from his other interesting concerns to the diffusion of the know- ledge of the Botanic System of medical practice: which agency he lost, through misrepresentation and jealousy, as shall be more fully developed hereafter. It is therefore, but an act of justice to him and the public, as he is now presented betore them as the pro- prietor of'the Improved System of Medical Botany, to state these facts—that this course of things was forced upon him—that he was unwillingly wrung from the public business in which he had been long engaged, to attend to the agency of Dr. T.—that after he had incurred vast expenseva'nd loss in the pursuit of this agency, it was improperly taken from him—that the svstcm itself was so good and invaluable and so susceptihle of improvement and cultivation, * that he considered it his imperious duty to devote himself to its prosecution and perfection. To this duty he believes himself -most solemnly called by the voice of God and his country; aid to it now he freely devotes his labor and his life. We believe and trust, when the whole matter is fairly weighed, so far from censure he shall receive, applause; and be cheered on his journey to the consummation of his benevolent purpose. And as men are not only ingenious to find fault but also to discover truth, a few reflections may serve to direct the train of their cogitations. It may be proper to remind them, that the infancy of a system, if truth and utility have stamped their seal upon it, cannot remain— it will not perish there—it must advance—the common sense and necessities of the world demand a progress to perfection. The first steps in the entrance of any subjecCean give hut little intima- tion how, or where, the path may terminate. From the first links in that immense chain of scientific discovery—extendiiw from the Priests of Memphis to Newton and La Place—how many were they who labored on the fabric, or toiled in the construction of the intermediate parts? And yet all were useful and perhaps neces- sary to the perfection of the structure; for even the errors which introductory lecture. 9 obtained in the operation, were turned to the advantage of the sys- tem, and served to render astronomy, at least, the most certain and best established of the sciences. It is delightful to trace, even in thought, the prcgress of scienti- fic "knowledge; but how much more, its benignant and beneficent results. From the first feeble efforts which rnafk its infancy, to those majestic and matured sysiems, which have been strengthened by discovery and established by time, there is a mighty and impressive admonition. It is the solemn voice of eternal Providence, urging us to perseverance. To buckle on the armor of truth and press on to the portals of eternal wisdom. On this path Mr. Howard is now determined to advance. The necessity is obvious; the call is urgent; the prize is human life; and the reward—it can only be measured by him, who regards the approbation of a good conscience, beyond all earthly inheritance. Although the curative art may never be raised to a level with the certainty of the physical science of the Newtonian school, yet, it may.reach a state of safety if not certainty; and it gives high and early promise of speedily attaining that distinguished eleva- tion, by this new mode of practice, that the patient will not be 'injured, if he cannot be cured. t And this is no slight recommendation to those, the least conver- sant with the history of medicine and disease. The fundamental principles which ought to govern in all cases, in the treatment of the sick, are, that as their peculiar temperament and sympathies cannot be certainly known; the medicine given should be certainly ascertained—both in quantity and kind—to be perfectly innoxious to the system, and safe from all injury or detriment to its organs. And there is, most certainly, in the abundant store house of Jeho- vah's goodness, medicines which can rouse the energies of nature and repair the injuries of diseased or inert organs, without wasting their vitality or ruining their structure. From a deep and powerful conviction of thi3 important truth, and a hope that the sublime discovery of an antidote, powerful in banishing the dread and danger of disease, may be established by his labors, Mr. Howard has been impelled forward in the course he now pursues. To God and to his country he commits his cause with confidence, fearless of the result, and faithful in the exhibition of his reasons and designs. The issue cannot be doubtful, when the foundation*refts on the basis of truth. Knowledge on every subject, is the common inheritance of man. And he who would appropriate it, in any of all its branches, to the use of an individual, makes an attempt, at once preposterous and wicked. The vital air, or Heaven's holy light, taken from us, would not be more injurious, than to rob us of the right of pursuing know- 10 introductory lecture. ledge wherever she may lead us, through the boundless empire of the Almighty. And wci rest assured, on this infallible conclusion—that whoever disputes ilJ, there exists in his mind, a total incompetency for en- larged views, or profound combinations on any subject, either of science, or practical affairs. All his researches mutt terminate, like Buffier's madman, who could nev<*r see beyond the end of his logical syllogism. They are compelled to end in smoke and ashes. When we speak to wise men, a single word unseals the fountain of thought and lays open the necessity of the caiise; a necessity which springs from the condition of man; and not from the dictales of his voluntary power. If any man could demonstrate that the science of medical botany, must ever remain precisely in the situation and order in which Dr. Thomson placed it—he would furnish one of the most sublime arguments of the reductio adabsurdum, which ever appeared in the world! The old axiom, that all reasonings were expra'cognitis et pnecon- cessis, would be swallowed up and perish in this overwhelming flood of new and inaccessible light. The original principles and laws of human belief—the whole stamina of human reason—must be swept away, before we can conclude that any man is not bound to advance science, to reach the perfection of knowledge, as near as his means and powers may attain, or his Opportunities rriay ena- ble him. Mr. Howard asks only this concession, for all the purposes he" has now in View, in appearing before the world, as the proprietor of this improved and advanced system of Botanic Medical Practice— and he hopes it will not be unreasonable in him, to presume, that the practice in his hands, will deserve all the credit, and obtain the confidence which he claims for it. He has, already, had sufficient experience, to speak with the assurance of one who knows his theory, and has tested it by the most rigorous and indubitable ex- periments. What he claims from public confidence, he humbly hopes, he can accomplish. The vain boast of untried hypothesis, can have no place in the stern decisions of the patient experimentor—who has seen disease baffled by the power of his art. Mr. Howard will finally add, that he is neither afraid to fail through defect in the justice and goodness of his cause, nor the weakness of his pre'mises, nor the vis consequential of his conclusions. But for the satisfaction of those who may not have the means of viewing the whole subject in its true light, he has advanced these considerations And he might justly state the powerful appeals to his sympathies, and his love to humanity, not to abandon the prosecution of the introductory lecture. 11 system. The entreaties and the loud and general call upon him, to continue his exertions, which, were he to state them all, mrght appear fabulous, or false; and which, as yet, memory could not supply half the amount of the reality. He therefore refers to the fact in a general manner, as another inducement to gratify at once his own sympathies and the wishes of the people. I.—This New Practice, as now established, will cpnnect with it, a Scientific Compendium, of the curious and beautiful structure of Man. The distinct and subordinate power of the parts, their particular and general uses, the separate and combined action and agency of the whole, forming one grand and amazing system of incomparable wisdom and infinite goodness. Whet) medicines, good in themselves, are combined with wisdom and jntelligence in the administration, how vast the amount of con- fidence and complacency established in the mind! Whatever is done in the dark, carries suspicion in its .very aspect, and perhaps, death concealed in its bosom! "Put out the light—and then—put out the sight !" The poet has most beautifully and forcibly conceived how ne- cessary darkness is to all the deeds of evil and the purposes of sin. But the light—oh! the light, is associated with every thing great and good and glorious in this world, and beyond it. "Eternal Light!—Eternal Eight! • *•'**•• "How pure the soul must be "Who dwells within the dazzling Light "Of vast Eternity." The intellectual vigor- -that animo prozseMi et acri, which belongs to all well formed and active* minds, absolutely require, in order to be satisfied, an entrance into the interior structure of man—a view and presence and immediate knowledge—with all the variety and of all the truth of the inward parts. We love to follow up conclusions, by their practical results, and pursue objects to the boundaries of thought, and walk by the light of reason, when the lights of nature fail! It was a beautiful remark of that sage, who said "I would rather perform one good act with my reason and conscience, than an hundred by accident—for a fool might do the same." The better we understand what we are about, the nearer we approach to the likeness of Him who dwells in light ineffable. Milton's fallen spirits seemed to be confounded at nothing more than the awful depth of that unutterable and eternal darkness into which ffiey had fallen. %. • ■ - ■ ■----"Farewell happy fields, Where joy forever dwells! Hail horrors! Hail Infernal world I and thou profoundest hell Receive thy new possessor!"-------- r This is the language'of utter darkness and undying pain! Light, therefore, as the great gift of the Fathcrot Lights—shall be through- 12 introductory lecture. out'this subject, as far as it is practicable, in an improvement, at ouce concise and comprehensive; extending to an u.finite variety of parte, and converging to one profound and grand conclusion— the health of the whole system. The Greek geometers ami Roman civilian?, have left behind them immense and amazing piles of logical reasoning and profound science—the former being based on nature, remains unshaken and will remain;* 6ut the latter, although their systems be reasoned out by a in>st admiraiJe ingenaity—yet, being founded on artificial n.ik.s of society, and false principles of government, are hastening fast to destruction, a:iJ utter ruin.' How can they stand, when all the artificial ranks of society on whicii tney were founded, are threatened with annihilation? The labor and ti n : wasted on t.iem will stand a curious monument of the efforts of man to establish systems on reason alone. Their fate often reminds us of the remark of a learned physician respecting his own profession—'■•L ioored, b'lt not improved; studied, but not advanced; rrultiplied, but weakened; enlarged, but rendered more defective an J uncertain." All superstructures which have not their foundation in nature, but in the pride and vanity of man, must dissolve, and "Like the baseless fabric of a vision—leave not a wreck behind." To reduce and simplify practical subjects to the laws and prijk ciples established in nature, would seem now to be the design and aim of every good mm. Oie king is now pleading for the rights of his people, and though another be trampling them down, the decree has gone forth; and the temple of pride—the whole pile of human mockeries, is tottering on its foundations, and will shortly bury in its ruins all who will not abandon its profanity; leaving nothing behind but the memory of its crimes and the jubilee of its eternal destruction. So passes away the follies of the world! And good it were, if we turn them to that useful account which wisdom always finds in th^ vicissitudes and revolutions of time. To a wise man nothing passes by unheeded or unimproved. Like a traveller on a jour- ney through a foreign land, he marks down every object and every event, that he may return to his country improved by knowledge and replenished with lesions of practical wisdom. A physician, approaching his patient, inquires into the nature of his symptoms, state of his disease, feels his pulse, and prescribes his medicine. How will this medicine operate? What will* be its influence on that wonderful mechanism, which it puts into action behind the scene? These questions can only be properly and safelv answered by the certain knowledge, that the remedy administered will not add new impediments to life. And if by a sudden shock, one organ INTRODUCTORY LECTURE. 13 should be relieved, an hundred others may not be embarrassed and impaired. Three, or five, or seven different substances com- pounded—whose chemical affinities and repulsions are not even known—how should tljeir operation on the living subject be ascer- tained? The least that can be said for a random practice, is, that it should be careful to do no evil. Reasoning, set in opposition to the laws of nature, resemble the School Theology. In attempting to find out the truths of scrip- ture by the power of syllogisms—at the end of ten centuries of untiring labor, all the difficulties remained as the) were—neither enriched by a new discovery, nor embellished by one single addi- tional idea. The labor of ages perishes, before one single principle of truth. A general maxim, properly established, is of more value than ten thousand of those small arguments which spring from the dreary confusion of a benighted intellect. General principles may fail in particular cases, but they must always prevail in the general course of things; a general remedy, well established by practice, may likewise fail in a particular in- stance, and yet its general utility remain unbroken. "When I was young, and became enamored of truth," soid Tully, "-It appeared to me so amiable and convincing, that I thought I could persuade all to adopt it: but now when I am old, and have some experience, I find its intrinsic loveliness not sufficient to establish it in the soul of man: Not that truth has lost its influ- ence or its value; but the hope is lost, of making it succeed by its own merits alone." And by what power, do you ask, would he make it succeed, if not by its own merits? By making it the interest of the party that it should succeed! This i> now required in the progress and suc- cess of the New System of iVIedical Practice. Let your interests persuade jou to make the trial, and your 8afety will hasten the decision. , 20