•■» > >. -#2KB; ©•d.s1*'' Surgeon General's Office (A l i 7 v- ■. ^^^^:<-^^^% r* AN ESSAY >•:< THE |)riittia of'|piichie. r ^ BY JAMES W. PRICE. M. D. ATLANTA, GEORGIA. ^ .# & *■'«* S2.li: i \t % ■4* ■-..•• ATLAX.TA. (iKOUCJIA: 'DAILY INTEI.l.IUK.M KIT 1'HINT. WBJ P945t 184? AN ESSAY on Tire racfo of IMtciiu The legitimate end of medicine is to cure disease. To pro- cure this result, depends not so much upon the amount given, .is a correct knowledge of the diseased organization, and the selection of the remedy which will act directly upon the organ affected. Inspiration has declared, that we are " fearfully and wonderfully made," evidently conveying to our minds the im- portant and all absorbing faet, that this wonderful and ingenious piece of machinery, the workmanship of an all All-wise and Su- preme Being, is not to be ruthlessly attacked by every tyro and pretender, whose vanity and pretentions may have forced him upon the people as a practitioner of. the healing art. Unfortunately for the age in which we live, there is a great fault existing some where in regard to this matter. To bring to light this error, and place the responsibility where it should rest, shall be the only apology rendered for these strictures. I shall not attack individuals but systems, and endeavor to show beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the only tangible reason aiven whv quacJcery has flourished and "sp.eid itself like a *reen bav tree," has been the fault of men who have claimed to / 2 have been brought up at the very iott ot Gamaliel in the neierj.-'e of medicine, and drank deep from her fountains as they k-s or practice. The fundamental doctrines then taught ar>' identically the doctrines taught now ; and should any man h»ve independence suffirfeat jtcrpronvpt bun to depart from these dog- rm.s, he is at once branded a>» a quack, and runs the risk of los- ing hi-, reputation as an honorable competitor in the profession, and unworthy the patronage of the public. Aside from all these considerations, my purpose will be to make myself useful in my profession, and adopt that mode of practice, gathered from all systems, which may be best suited to my conception of right, and most likely to relieve the suffer- ings of those who may place themselves under my charge in the hour of affliction. It is a matter of very small consequence to me, whether I am recognized by my professional brethren as in " regular order''' or riot, if I can but succeed in relieving the sufferings of humanity, and restoring to health those who are smitten by disease. The right to think and act for myself is a perogative which I have always exercised in religion and poli- tics, but more especially in medicine ; and, perhaps, to put my- self right on the latter subject, I will state that I follow no man's views, no man's practice. For twenty-seven years I have en- deavored to inform myself, and upon the evpewence of that period I have based my hope of success. Of that success, my numerous patrons and a generous public must determine. Dur- ing this period my great object has been to arrive &l facts, based upon scientific research, and reconcile discrepancies. " Truth, order, and harmony prevail every where in the physical world ; where we do not find them, we may be certain that the fault 3 Lies in a deficiency of knowledge or preception on our pait. Our duty, therefore, is still to pursue our investigations until we find the sacked prize, and thus have obtained a revelation of new glories." No man should be censured for objecting to a system of medicine, whose founders and expounders are objec- tors themselves. To more fully illustrate my views and startle into existence an investigation on this subject, I will call the at- tention of my readers to a few extracts, from prominent auth- ors upon the subject: J. W. Gullifer, Surgeon in the British Army says: " The time is not very far distant when the members of our profession will disdain the adventitious supports to which their predecessors had recourse. It is impossible for them much longer to main- tain their empire from the rapid diffusion of knowledge among all classes of people, and the greater number of thinking men in t very community. When I survey the Album of great names and recollect what the fathers of Medical science have done, I feel mixed sensations of admiration and regret; of admiration at the extent of their labors', of regret at the misapplication of their talents." Elisha Bartlett, M. D., Prof, of Theory and Practice in the Transylvania University, says: " I am stating what every one knows to be true, when I say that the general confidence which has heretofore existed in the science and art of medicine, has within a few past years been violently shaken and disturbed, and is now greatly lessened and impaired. The hpld which medicine has so long had upon the popular mind is loosened, there is a wide spread skepticism as to all modes of curing dis- eases." And why such au admission ? If the science" of medicine be correct, and based upon principles as firm as the eternal hills, the gates of hell would never have prevailed against it; but ever and anon an honest disciple of the healing art, soaring far above his professional predictions, has given Allopathy some awful ch.de-. And strange to say, with but one exception, (that of 4 Thompson,) every new faugled system which has, in modern times, sprung into existenc-, has eminated from among them- selves. " A house divided against itself can not stand ;" and the only reasonable alternative left an honest searcher after truth, is to draw his own conclusions from the lights before him, leaving error to combat itself. " A cripple in the right way may beat a racer in the wrong." " The science of medicine, like the Doric column, should stand, simple,pure and majestic; having fact for its basis, Induction for its pillow, and truth alone for its capital." " Time o\ erthrows the illusions of opinions, but confirms the decisions of Nature." In illustrating more fully the views which I wish to impress upon the minds of my readers, I will allude to the subject of Fever, to shew the utter fallacy which prevails among the pro- fession upon this great destroyer of the human race. Dr. Fordyce, from whose works all other writers have drawn their ideas for the last b,al£ century, says: " Every man who has read the various descriptions of fever which have been given by au- thors, ancient and modern, for one country or of another, becomes immediately sensible that neither its causes, rise, progress, nor termination, are thoroughly known or perfectly described; and of this"be will be more fully persuaded If he has frequently had occasion to see the dis- ease. The history of fever, therefore, is by no means thoroughly understood. That Its treat- ment is not, appears clearly, as the practitioners of different countries who attend patients la this disease, nay of the same country, district, and even town, although of great learning hi medicine, employ very different modes of cures." Again he says: " In short, fever is a disease the whole of the appearances of which have been in no ways accounted for." Again he adds : " These sensible appearanoes in fever seem so very Independent upon one another, that they can only be considered as symptoms of some alteration of the system which has not hitherto been Investigated." The Ingenious'DocWr, then, frankly acknowledges that he Is unable to show up the connecting links so as to prevent an, unbroken chain of causa- tion, but admits that such a chain does exist, and that some future investigator may succeed in demonstrating it. A writer in the Transylvania Medical Journal says: " But notwithstanding the immense la bor that has been devoted to the Investigation of fever, the annual number of its victims is suf ficient evidence that the disease is not yet understood, at least so far as treatment Is concerned." Another, in a late number of the Boston Medical Journal, terms th!3 disease, " That embodi- ment of transcendentalism which we call fever." Professor Cross, of Transylvania, says.: "No topic has been more earnestly discussed than he nature and treatment of fever, an J ye* few points have been settled less to the satisfaction of the generality of physicians." Dr. Cooke says : " When «e serio i~ly consider the striking difference, not to call it positive 5 opposition, which ma: ns the different theories of fever, and the inodes of treating It, and again consider the mass of testimony, equally voluminous, and apparently alike reputable, In favor of each, we are puzzled not a little to decide how far it is safe to confide in human perception." Having shown the contradictions in relation to what these scientific teachers of the healing art promulgate in relation to Fever, my next object will be to shew most conclusively their discrepancies and very apparent contradictions in relation to its treatment. As Typhoid Fever is the prevailing form of Fever of this climate, I shall now make their own authors speak for themselves, leaving the intelligent reader to draw his own conclusions in the premises: " Very little appears to be decide! in the profession with respect to this disease, either with regard to its nature or its treatment. " In order to show the unsettled condition of the medrca! mind upon this subject, I will give an abstract of the present mode of treating this disease, taken from writers living in various parts of our own extensive country and in different European States, which I think will show that more light was needed upon this subject. I will first condense from the published Transactions of the American Medical Association some abstracts from reports of committees on epidemic ilifeases, etc. : "'Dr. Barbour pursued the expectant plan; bled if re-actions ran high; gave opium to re- strain diarrhcea, quiet delirium, and procure sleep ; moved the bowels with castor-oil and tur- pentine. Mercurials-proved injurious ; quinine was also injurious in every case of real typhoid fever. Dr. Adair agrees with this. " Dr. Hart relied upon aperients, diuretics, diaphoretics sedatives, and stimulants. " Dr. M'Nelly gives blue-mass, Ipecac, and citrate of potash, In,a state of effervesence; re" strains diarrhoea with paregoric and tine, catechu; has frequently given quinine, but without benefit. " Dr. B. F. Stephen* gives chlorine-water for the purpose of Introducing oxygen, so as to favor the production of fibrin. Uis patients recovered in about three weeks. " Dr. Sutton, of Georgetown, Ky., supposes there is generally a dally obscure chill in typhoid fever, and gives quinine, he says, with great advantage. " Dr. Desha relies on quinine and blue-mass as an antidote to the diarrhoea in typhoid fever, or quinine alone. '• Dr. Geno gives qufrfrne in typhoid fever to quiet restlessness, and equalize the circulation. "The great objection to quinine by Dr. Grant is, that it always increases the restlessness, sleeplessness, tinnitus auriura, (ringing in the ears,) and the deafness symptomatic of the dis- ease. " Dr. Grant and Dr. Hawkins meet the crisis with diffusible stimulants. " Dr. 8. Kersey, Lewisville, Henry county, treated three cases of typhoid fever with rhubarb, blue pills, camphor, valerian, quinine, and anodynes, with cold sponging. One died. One case treated with anodynes, quinine, turpentine, and cold sponging, recovered."' " I will now gVre some extracts from those who have written books upon that subject: " Dr. Jackson commences with an emetic of tartarized antimony, and follows it with an ac- tive catharfc. If this docs not afford decided relief, he then uses venesection, letting the blood How until an impression is made ; then gives tartar emetic in broken doses every two hours until decided nausea is produced, restraining its action on the bowels when necessary with S opium. Formerly gave calomel in frequently-repeated small doses, so as to produce mLU- ; Ijs, but finally abandoned the measure as useless if not injurious. " Dr. Nathan Smith has never seen any remedy shorten the duration of the disease; in mil 1 cases gives no medicine, but keeps the patient quiet; gives mild drinks and nourishment. In severer cases uses such means as will mitigate the most prominent symptoms; looks upon emetic tartar as " an inappropriate and unsafe remedy;" has known It convert a mild case into a severe one. "Chomal, of Paris, follows the expectant plan, giving only mild drinks; sponging with coll water; fomentations, mucilaginous injections, etc.; and in the latter stage tonics and stimu- lants ; bleeds if the symptoms indicate it. " Loves pursues pretty much the same plan, but resorts to bleeding oftener. He says tha'< " by the judicious use of the three principal means—bleeding, sweating, and tonics—the diseas- maybe shortened a little—a day or two at least," and "hopes that a more successful treat ment of this disease will yet be discovered." '" Bouillaud bleeds freely and frequently, and cups and leeches In the Intervals ; does nothing else. " De Laroque begins with an emetic, and then gives dally bri?k purgatives throughout the e.i tire course of the disease. " Bartlett recommends the electic plan In a mild way, merely combating symptoms and tak- ing care of the strength as much as possible, to enable the patient to bear up under the tedious course usually ran by this disease. " Wood commences with a mild purgative ; then bleeds, if arterial action is high; gives r- frigerants to moderate pain ; and in the second stage gives mercury and turpentine to corno vt inflammation." I might extend my views on this subject to an almost illimita- ble length; there seems to be, however, an agreement among our Allopathic brethren, in relation to the administration of som« particular remedies in all diseases—the Sampson of their curative means is Calomel, hence Dr. Anthony Hunn, of Kentucky, says: "This is the era of calomel. The present medical prac- tice might well dispense with every other drug besides it. I own that the calomel practice is both cheap and easy to the physician, for the whole extent of both theory and practice is, give calomel. If that will not help, give more calomel, and if that again proves abortive, double, treble the dose of calomel. If the patient recovers, ' calomel has cured him," if he dies, 'nothing on earth could have saved him.' " And notwithstanding the glaring facts which are developed in relation to this one article in the materia medica of its deleteri- ons effects upon the constitution of man, a blind adherance is still persisted in by those who administer it, when at the samo time they are as as ignorant of the mode of its operation, as the most consumate dupe which walks our streets. To prove my position, I quote from the United States Dispensatory : " Of the modus operandi of mercury, we KNOW NOTHING, except that it probably acts through^the medium of the circulation, and that it possesses a peculiar alterative power over the vital functions, which enables it in many cases to subvert diseased ac- tion by substituting its own in their stead." Strange as it may appear, yet nevertheless true, wherever and whenever this substitution is produced, the unfortunate victim had much better have struggled on with the original disease, and taken his chances for life, than to have become the subject of all the horrors which such treatment inflicts upon him the balance of his days. This, however, is the legitimate and recognized practice of the present century. To sustain the rotten and tottering fabri,c which is now reeling under accumulated enlightened public opinion, it has to be bolstered and sustained by Legislative en actments, and the continued anathemas of those who are dread ing encroachments upon the craft. Yet, amid all their opposi tions, there is a niigtity revolution in medicine dawning upon the world—and the day is now not far distant when the consn- mation of our hopes shall be accomplished, and the star which has so long shown dimly, shall burst forth in radiance and beau- ty, and pour its light upon the world so long enshrouded in darkness. In private life, Ave are often permitted to employ our physi- cians from whatever source we prefer; yet, at the same time, should it become necessary to need the counsel of some others, and the attending physician happens not to belong to the regu- lar orders the first must be discharged, as all consultations are refused on such occasions. So far as I am concerned, I have never been greatly benefited by such consultations, and shall from this time, in medicine, raise the " black flag." I have nothing to ask or to grant. If my past experience and practice w;!' not H sustain the ]K»kk>n I have taken, I will seek other arrangements to obtain my brt-r.-.l. in future. I will, however, premise these remarks, by stating, that I will not hold counsel with any phys- ician who entertain:- such bigoted views, but will at any time take charge of his cases, provided he is discharged. A more alarming and deleterioiis effect of this legalized pfac- tice is manifested in the army. It is the experience of the best physicians, who have practiced as Army Surgeons, that those diseases which are most prevalent among our troops, arc such as require but simple treatment, and wherever heroic remedies have been used the mortality is enormously great. From the best information which can be obtained, the majority of the Surgeons now in the Confederr.te'Army are young men of but little experience or practical knowledge. I would not call m question their talents or capacity to learn, but, where the lives of our soldiery are so much exposed to the diseases of our cami^, it is but simple justice that Surgeons of long experience and extensive practical qualifications should hold positions so vastly important to the welfare of our soldiers, and the interest of the country at large. But no man is allowed to enter this field of usefulness unless he is a regular UJalomel, Quinine, Blister Doctor. The door has been closed by an act of Con- gress. The Army Regulations declares that none but these favored sons of the immortal Hippocrates shall administer to the poor soldier, whatever preference he may have for any other mode of practice. This is not only the fact in reference to Army Surgeons, but also to Hospital Surgeons to a very great extent. While the soldiers may worship God according to the dictates of their own -consciences, and feel free to give an opinion in mat- ters of religion, they are bound to bow submissively to an ac- knowledged medical creed without a murmur, because it has been sanctioned by the strong arm of law. In every age of the world, from the earliest dawn of medical science to the present period, physicians have ever been regarded as the guardians of the public health, and perhaps no class of 9 men, of whom history gives an account, are the subjects of greater sacrifices, mentally and physically; and great indeed are the responsibilities of a physician. To him is entrusted the lives of his fellow-men. Yea, more than this—he is the deposi- tory of the secrets of families among whom he practices; and no man who is known to be immoral in his course of life and a libertine should be recognized in any community as a physician, much less permitted to tread within the sacred walls of the family circle. If a physician is the possessor of those feelings which should characterize the man and the Christain, he must not regard his calling as one of small import. Hence, looking with the deepest interest upon this subject, as it presents itself to my mind, with all of its momentous consequences, I have en. rleavored to investigate every system of practice which has been presented to the consideration of the people, from that of the immortal Hippocrates, whose " principal object was closely to observe nature, collect facts, make experiments, and to record his own experience, or that of others, wherever he could," down to the present time. [ now call the attention of my readers to Honwpathy. But before alluding especially to this system, I must state my own relationship to it particularly. I have made it my study. I think I understand it in all its minutia; and my honest conviction is, that, as a whole, it wTill not do for a system—and not reliable when the strong arm of disease lays hold of man. Many of the remedies are valuable as medical agents, and such as I deem of that character, I use in my practice, but not upon the principle of similia, similibus, curantur. "The system of Homcepathy waa founded by Samuel Hahnemann, a native of Saxony. He was born in the year 1755, and died In 1843. While a student at the University of Erlangen, where he graduated In 1779, his attention was attracted to the controversies which divided the medical schools of Europe. While reflecting upon the various theories existing In the medical world at that time, he formed the basis of his system, timilia similibiH curantur, or, " lik e c ores like.'" He asserted that disease was a complex group of symptoms, which must be overcome, sub- dued or driven out of the system by creating another similar group of symptoms. To quote his own word«, " The curative power of medicines is founded on the property they possess to t- ve rise to symptoms similar to those of the disease, but of a more intense power. Hence, no* 10 liistiase can be cured but through the means of a medicine which produces a group of syun toms similar to tho3e of the disease, and at the same time possessed of a superior energetic power." The human mind cannot conceive of the dccillionth part of a grain of any subtance. Ast.-oa omers say that it is 95,000,000 of miles from the earth to the sun; and before you have reached the decillionth of a grain of any substance, you would have more pills than would reach from the earth to the sun, when laid side by side in a straight Une. Yet Hahnemann tells us that the decillionth of a grain of oyster shell Is capable of producing oyer a thousand different symptoms. The doctrine of infinitesimal doses, together with the timilia almilibus curantur, constitutes about the whole of Hahnemann's system. He tells us that when the decillionth of a grain of any substance is taken into the stomach, the effects frequently last for forty days. It has been calculated by an intelligent mathematician, that a billion of seconds have not yet elapsed since God created the world, according to the Mosaic chronology. In order to produce a decillion, and express it In figures, you have to multiply a billion by a million seven times. Now, assuming that a single drop, or ten drops of water, will hold in solution a single grain of any medicine, and that*you desire to so dilute the mixture that a single drop, or ten drops, will contain but a decillionth of a grain of the medicine; to do this you would require the fluid In all the fresh water lakes In America and Europe, and then have to draw for the balance of ths marine contents of the Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean. The absurdity of infinitesimal doses must be apparent so soon as you begin to reflect upoa these facts, and we do not feel surprised to see a growing desire on the part of some of Hahne- mann's disciples to abandon this part of the Homoeopathic system. Now, what is Homoeopathic treatment, by infinitesimal doses, but a system of treatment which prescribes no medicine? If the diet and nursing are good, the patient's chance of re- covery is good. We can only account for the belief of Hahnemann in the singular doctrines he promulgated, from the fact that he was a cotemporary of Mesmer, and a believer in animal magnetism. To give some idea of Hahnemann's method of developing the medical virtues of substances, we quote his own language :— " By shaking a drop of medicinal liquid with one hundred drops of alcohol once, that U to say, by taking the phial in the hand which contains the whole, and imparting to It a rapid mo - tion by a single stroke of the arm descending, I shall then obtain an exact mixture of them; but two or three, or ten such movements, would develop the medical virtues still further, making them more potent, and their action on the nerves much more penetrating. In the attenuation of powders, when it is requisite to mix one grain of a medicinal substance in one hundred grains of sugar of milk, it ought to be rubbed down with force during one hour only, in orde. that the power of the medicine may not be carried to too great an extent; medicinal substan ces acquiring at each division or dilution a new degree of power, as the rubbing or shaking they undergo develops that inherent virtue in medicines, which was unknown until my time, and which is so energetic that latterly I have been forced to reduce the number of shakes to two." I have thus endeavored to give a fair description of the view* of Hahnemann. Doubtless he was a man of great research and extraordinary ability; and as to his medical knowledge and lit- erary attainments, he had but few superiors ; but a monomaniac upon the subject of infentesimal doses; but few,"however, ar.v to be found now who are fools enough to hazzard their reputa- tion upon such a foundation. If *uch should be in existence fol- 11 lowing in his footstep*, they are trying either to make dupes of the public or destitute of brain enough to discover their errors. Whenever a physician approaches the bed-side of a patient with his 200 or 500 attenuations, for the purpose of curing disease, I can come to no other conclusion that either he is a knave or a fool. A celebrated author remarks upon this sub- ject: " The minuteness of the subdivision prescribed by Hahnemann is extreme. He does not tall: of doses so large as the decillionth part of a grain—this would be hsrribly disastrous. A hun- dred decillionth of a grain is quite a formidable dose. A decillionth is the common dose, and thi£ numerical is expressed, after the old method of enumeration, by a unit with a string of CO cyphers. If we suppose the population of the earth amount to a thousand millions, a grain, if taken in the dose of a decillionth of a grain, would supply every inhabitant of the earth with a septillion of doses. And if each one should take three decillionths of a grain a day, the pres- ent inhabitants of the earth would require very nearly a sentillion of years to use up the whole grain. Hahnemann, and his followers, do not talk of these exceedingly small doses in regard to powerful medicines only, but in regard to medicines considered almost Inert. Nothing is more common with Homcepathists than to give a decillionth or two of a grain of charcoal, o* oyster shell, or common salt." That the fallacy of such a practice may be fully understood by those who are often imposed upon by men who are following such extreme measures; however, in some instances professedly. There are but few who are now engaged in the practice,' who are honestly so. Within my own knowledge, I know a Homce- pathic physician who was called to a case of delerium tremens— after his sugar pills had failed, and every other remedy which his skill and judgment could bnng to bear upon his patient, he administered three grains of Gum Opio, with the happiest ef- fect. Others, again, are resorting to external applications of various kinds, which is an express violation of Homoepatic prac- tice. I use Homcepathic remedies, but not in infintesimal doses—neither upon the principle inculcated by Hahnemann. To place myself in a proper light before the community in which I live and practice medicine, was the object I had in publishing this Essay. I am the advocate of a rational practice. I do not conceive that any system of medicine is free from errors, and it should be the business of the generous, scientific physician to investigate every system, and select from the mass the pure and o-ood. Eclecticism in medicine is the great law which will govern the world in future, and whether physicians will engage in carrying on this work or not, public opinion, enlightened pub- lic opinion will force the profession into that channel. It re- quires but little discernment to discover that Allopathy, Homce- pathy, Hydropathy or Thomsonianism can not live separate and distinct within themselves. The followers of each of these dif- ferent systems are gradually crawling on to each others premi- ses, while each in turn are using remedies belonging to their practice. I can not follow Allopathy strictly, because I object to the use of so much mercury. I can not follow Homeepathy as a whole, because they differ among themselves—one class is folio wing Hahnemann in infintesimal doses, while another class is using large doses of Quinine, and from five to ten grains of Calomel at a dose. I" can not practice Hydropathy, because water will nor cure everything—and yet I do not object to the use of water. I can not adopt Tomsonianism, because Steam, Lobelia and lied Pepper does not meet my views of what I con- ceive to be correct practice. Dr. S. l>. William.'*, (Lexington, Mo.,) a Homeopathic physi- cian, writing to Dr. Peters, says : " Within the last few months, I have be,en called to some dozen or more cases of conges- tive chills—some in the first stages of the chll', and others at a more advanced period, when tramps, cold ertreuietiei, cada vtrout/eat'trea and the most intense suffocation were /ast crumbing the poor victim into eternity. In a case entirely pulsele-sx, and oppressed' in the abdomen, what is to be done ? Can we put one pellet of the thirtieth attenuation in a tum- bler of water, and giv? the patient a dose of It, every five, ten, or twenty minutes, with any hope of relieving his condition? Or even from the third, second, or first? I gave Quinine and brandy, with hot, external fomentation—and God bless the treatment! It saves all my patients, while they are dying all around me." Dr. Wm. H. Holcombe, \M. D., a Homoeopathic physician, in the " American Journal of Homoeopathy," reports his expe- rience as follows: Case 1.—A negro boy, aged twelve years, fell Insensible in the field about sunrise. I saw him two or three hours afterward.-. He was perfectly insensible, and had occasional convulsions— mainlyof the extremities. Hot skin, full, hard pulse, pupil contracted, deglutition difficult. The convulsions were excited by handling him. Tried the douche on him, but to no purpose. I treated this boy for about tldrty-five hours with Aconite, Belladonna, Ignalia, Ilyosoiamu*, and Zinc, besides bathing and mustard plasters, without effecting the least change. The owner then took the case into tils own hands, applied blisters, and administered large doses of Calo- mel and Quinine. The b:>y roused up in a few hours, and Quinine secured the convalesence. 13 Was this a coincidence or a cure ? I may here state that I treated three small children, for ten or twelve days, for sypratoms of acute hydrocephalus, with irregular and imperfect remissions. Vomiting; constipation, irregular pulse, screamings, gritting the teeth, coma, rolling the head, chewing motions, and even convulsions had occurred in all of them. No amelioration whatever was obtained, and the cases seemed steadily marching to a fatal issue, when I adopted the bold and experimental use of Quinine. The three case3 promptly improved, and thoroughly re- covered. It is not to be supposed that Quinine is a specific for idiopathic, hydrocephalus. In these cases, the hydrocephalic symr tonis were merely subordinate appendages to the intermit- tent type, which was the epidemic constitution of the year, Cask 2.—Negro woman, aged about twenty-five years, stout and healthy; had a chill on Sat- urday. Fever very slight. She was perfectly well on Sunday. Monday morning, she went to work as usual. About noon, she dropped suddenly in the field, without previous complaint, in a comatose state. I saw her in about an hour. She lay on her back, perfectly motionless and senseless. Pulse about 100, full and strong. Respiration slow, and loudly stertorous at times. Occasionally there were two or three jerking, spasmodic inspirations to one long sighing expi- ration—a very bad symptom, although not uniformly fatal, as Dr. Parry, of Indianapolis, pro- nounced it to be. Pupil closely contracted, teeth clenched, deglutition impossible. Skin natural' She was cupped>ln the temples, almost covered with mustard plasters, her head was shaved, and the cold douche persistently applied to it—all without eliciting the least expression of sensibili- ty. An injection of twenty grains of Quinine, and forty drops of Laudanum were given, to be repeated in four hours, unless she improved. About the time for the second Injection she winked (one of the first indications, oftentimes, of returning .sensibility) and moaned, and soon executed some voluntary movements, so that it was not administered. She seemed perfectly well the next day, only feeble. No more Quinine was given, and she convalesced. Case 8.->-A fine stout negro man, aged twenty-five, had a paroxysm of chill and fever; In which he complained dreadfully of p:iin in the abdomen. After it left him, the overseer gave him Quinine, until it produced a decided impression on the sen.^-. He was will do that herself, if she can, and if not, no power on earth can relieve the sufferer or divert the fatal shaft; no medicine exists to assist nature or to cure disease. Such reasoning is at once the death of the science, and if it does not immediately cause the death of the patient, it certainly is not calculated to avert it." Under all these circumstances, it is the imperative duly of the scientific physician, regarding the interest of the community in which he may reside, to investigate the claims of each of these, and adopt, in part or as a whole, the one which, after* mature deliberation, he may conceive to be based upon correct patho- logical principles. Influenced by motives of this nature, I have endeavored to gather from these various systems of medicine, a practice which I conceive to be in accordance with sound judg- ment and practical experience, whether it eminated from the mineral, animal, vegetable, or any other kingdom. The want of a similar course in others has led to a want of confidence in the public mind in reference to the practice of medicine, while the adaptation of remedies to disease has been only palliative in h>: effects and injurious in its results. Quixixk cures everything with some. Xot an ache or paiu exists in the human frame which may not be reached by thii immortal drug. It is a tonic, sedative, nervine, &c. To the latter property I attribute for it all that is claimed by its strong- est advocates ; for, doubtless, more nerves have been shattered and constitutions debilitated by its use, than any other article within the range of the materia medica. Acting directly upon rhe brain, the nervous centre, and from thence conveyed off through all the ramifications of the nervous system, producing its dire effects to the remotest tissue of the body. The effects 18 of one dose having passed away, it is necessary soon to repeat it, until the subject finds him or herself the unfortunate victim of a sort of quinine delirium tremens, from which there is no relief, until there is a repetition of the medicine, thereby estab- lishing the correctness of the old adage, that " the hair of the dog is good for the bite." In all reason, how is impossible that one article of the materia medica can meet the demands and combat all the diseases which flesh is heir to ? It is contrary to common sense and sound philosophy, and cannot stand the test 01 scientific research or investigation. Again : Morphine and Elixir of Opium'are the "Alpha and Omega" while thousands of unfortunate victims, who are daily slumbering on in unconscious insecurity, who have been made the subjects of this mania through the injudicious and unguard- ed application of these articles in the prescriptions of physicians. And hence the practice of medicine in the present day is nar- rowed down to a few experimental palliatives, resulting in an almost entire loss of confidence in the science, and an abandon- ment of all curative agents. And when we turn and look around us at the violence of disease, and the fatality attending a large proportion of the cases, the heart sickens at the thought, and anxiously inquires, is there no "balm in Gilead, and is there no physician there ?" I allude to no particular location or class of physicians, but upon general principles, as I have witnessed the march of death through the earth, spreading ruin and dismay, and clothing once happy faces in the habiliments of mourning. After mature deliberation and years of research upon this sub- ject, I have determined to gather from the great mass of authors upon the different systems of practice now extant in the world, that mode of treating diseases suited to my own views and con- ceptions in reference to a matter of such vast importance to my fellow-beings and my own responsibilities, morally or otherwise. In some sections I have been charged with being a Thomsonian, in others a real bona fide Calomel and Blister doctor—again a Homceopathist—next a Hydropathist. I trust that I may be per- 19 niitted to set this matter at rest, by stating that I am an Eclectic in my views of medicine, and shall use such remedies as I hum- bly conceive may be best adapted in their nature to alleviate the sufferings of my patients, whether gathered from Allopathy, Hydropathy, Homoeopathy, or any other path;/. And " in this light I have presented the relation *f these new forces, which seem to be destined to bless the suffering world in a degree hitherto unknown, when linked together and under standingly practiced. Each one separate will ef course be able to produce upon its own legitimate field a great deal of good, but it will still be partial and limited, when compared with the good which, united, they are able to produce. Party feeling, as we have seen, has created strict party lines to keep them asunder, but their common interest in the service of humanity demands their union. " If thus a union of these three most effective methods is re- alized, a complete revolution in medical matters must be the re- sult ; medical success will be increased until disease will be almost annihilated and death Retarded to its natural limits." And he who comes out from a medical school with his diploma, con- tent to plod on in the same old beaten track, as taught him in the beautiful theories and systems promulgated by medical lec- turers in schools of science, and never looks beyond these for other lights, nor ventures an opinion of his own, will find after a few years practice that all was not " gold that glitters," and that his misfortunes in the practice of medicine was but the re- sult of not thinking for himself. With the most profound re- spect for the experience and scientific research of our fathers in medicine, as laid down in the text books, I would say, that he who follows to the letter the dictation of such, without exercis- ing discretion and judgment, and watching the operations of nature, as exhibited by a totality of symptoms in diagnosis, and then fails to select his remedies to meet the emergencies of his case, outside of what he has been taught by his medical dicta- tors, will find himself and his patient in a labyrinth from which there is no extrication. I am not opposing a thorough medical 20 education, but I do most streuously oppose that py: -tcm of edu- cation which prohibits the exercise of free thought and carrying it out iuto practice. If there is a decided improvement in med- ical science as taught in regular schools, I would ask. the most .strenuous advocates of such views to point them out. The lancit* once the shcet-ancrnfr in acute diseases, is now abandoned almost entirely by the profession. Calomel, the "Sampson"' of the'materia medica, is gone out of rdpute, when we take into con- sideration its application to the treatment of diseases in former vrars. If there N an improvement in the science, it has grown out of the fact that first principles have been abandoned and new theories erected on the ruins thereof. These are facts which can not be evaded. Agent* are now recommended to the stu- dents of medicine in institutions of the present day, which would have been considered sacrilege twenty years ago. Thi-. however, is but the force of public opinion, growing out of the increased intelligence of the people, who arc no longer to be duped and drugged to death ; and I believe that there arc very few diseases which may not be reached by rational medical treatment, if timely and properly administered. I am candid in saying, that education alone can not constitute a successful practitioner. There are innumerable instances where individual- have received the most enlightened education who have been perfect dupes in medicine, and were compelled to retire from tht profession. While others, with less advantages, have arrived at eminence and accomplished wonders in the profession of medi- cine. There is a peculiar tact and talent required, which all do not possess—it is almost of a divine origin—a sort of intuition. which gives its possessor udvautageMiot to be comprehended or explained by the powers of reasoning or philosophy. And while I would not have my readers believe me contending for Spirit- ualism, yet, the position assumed is at least tenable and not easily confounded. "A physician's practice," remarks Hempel, "is scarcely ever proportionate to the real merits of the treatment he pursues; on 21 the contrary, it depends chiefly upon accessary causes, so much so, that many a deserving physician, distinguished by his skill and success, is scarcely able to get along in the world, wherea: an ignorant pretender, who happens to be a bold, an intriguing tactitian, is looked upon as the leading man of the profession. If a physician succeed by dinf"of manceurving in spreading among the people the belief that he is the cleverest physician in the place, they will run to him in preference to any other, though a much more inferior man. It is simply intended to show that a large practice is no proof of a physician's superior skill and success, and that, therefore, the large practice which a physician may have can not be adduced as an argument in favor of the exclusive preference which may be given to him." Doubtless many, Aery many, of the errors in practice, have grown out of the fact, that physicians eagerly seek for names-, and prescribe for diseases, whereas, if symptoms were more closely analyzed as the means of arriving at a correct diagonsis, many errors would be avoided. The closest and most scrutiniz- ing observation ought to be called in to aid the physician in making a proper prescription, at the same time watching the operations of nature, in removing from the system diseased morbific matter, and restoring to healthy action those organ- which arc eudeavoring to throw oft' that which may be deroga- tory to the auimal economy. Nature "has a meaning in every thing that she doe?, and there is no occurrence, however com- mon, which is not the exemplification of some laws of nature. As the operation of one law is usually found to accomplish an infinity of ends, so the discovery of any one exemplification of it usually leads to the explanation of many other things of which we were previously ignorant." Dr. Dixon, editor of the "New York Scalpel,"1 the enlightened surgeon, who has been contending with error and striving to establish a more rational system of medicine for years, save, "Nature is ever busy, by the silent operation of her own forces, endeavoring to cure disease. Her medicines arc air, warmth, 22 light, food, water, exercise, and sleep. Their use is directed by instinct, and that man is most worthy the name of physician who most reveres its unerring laws." "Medical science," says Macilwain, " is in part the study of the laws and relations of animal bodies, in order to ascertain the modes in which nature relieves diseases or repairs accidents ; and to determine the conditions of the whole body, which favor or impede these processes in its various parts ; with an especial view, in the one case, to the maintainvnce of such conditions, in the other, to their removal." This great principle must be admitted to the fullest extent, and any remedial agent thrown into the constitution of man Avhich does not act in strict con- formity with the principle inculcated in this doctrine, is contra- dicted by the laws of nature, and will be productive of immense injury, if not loss of life. Then how closely should we study the various and diversified symptoms which may be presented to the eye of the practitioner, in any given case which may come within his jurisdiction ; for he who would carelessly or inadver- tently make a thrust at disease, irrespective of the laws which govern and control our animal machine, being " wonderfully and fearfully made," is but tampering with the lives of his fellow- beings, and deserves, to say the least of it, the epithet of a scien- tific murderer. Mistakes have been made in the hands of phys- icians that time nor memory can ever efface from the minds of the living. How important, then, that we should watch atten- tively all the minutiae of disease, with every attending symptom in the case, before we bring to bear upon the case those reme- dies which may be necessary to control the malady on the one hand, and in strict conformity to scientific principles upon the other. " After all," says an elegant writer, " pathological symptoms do not amount to much, provided we prescribe in accordance with the totality of the symptoms; for, by pursuing this course, we can not fail to prescribe for the thing, even if the name be left out of consideration." Names are but empty sounds at best. 23 If 1 say the patient has Pneumonia, I simply state a fact, which may or may not exist. How do I ascertain that the individual has the disease alluded to ? I arrive at the correctness of my opinion by certain developments, which are characterized as symptoms or signs. Then I prescribe for the thing according to those symptoms, and if the sanrcgroup were existing in any other given case, and I could not designate the disease sufficient- ly to tell whether it wras pneumonia or anything else, I should direct my remedies so as to cover the greatest amount of symp toms in the case, whether I ever succeeded in applying a name or not. I could illustrate cases where physicians have been for days puzzled to ascertain a name before the disease was deter- mined upon, or a prescription made, while the unfortunate vie tim has been suffered to struggle on, awaiting the decision of his physician, until the malady had fastened upon his constitution, and rendered his case utterly hopeless. And it is to be regretted that an opinion is rife in many sections of the country, that some diseases are within the reach of remedial agents, only so far as to palliate the symptoms, leaving nature to work out its own cure. Truly if this be correct we are not much in advance of the old Mosaic doctors, who were both hydropathists and vege- table—for the prophet commanded them to wash in the river of Jordan, and they were healed—and a fig was applied to an- other's boil with the desired effect. And if I could imbibe the principle, and reconcile it with the immutable laws of God, that he had provided a ransom for the soul and not the bodies of his intelligent creature*, then I should necessarily conceive the work of redemption was only partial, and comes far short of accom- plishing that which was the intention and design of the God who made us of " one flesh and to dwell upon the face of the earth." But, I entertain no such thoughts ; with unshaken confidence in that Providence who has " numbered the very hairs of our head," and notices even the " sparrow's fall," I believe he has placed upon this wide earth remedial agents, if " every where known," sufficient to remove every pain or affliction which the 24 violation of the Divine law has entailed upon the human family. And with due respect for the opinions of others who • may differ with ine upon this subject, I must be permitted to state as my honest, conviction, that the prevalent opinion now existing m many neighborhoods and families in reference to Typhoid Fever, has done immenseTnischief. The generally received opinion is, that if you give medicine you kill your patient. Let us analyze a little. This scourge of the human family has swept over our country, mowing down its thousands, almost unmolea ted in its work of death. I have seen it where medicine wa: given, and many died ; and I have witnessed its inroads upon many families, where nothing was done except a few palliatives to soothe and quiet the i ufterer, and they have all almost uni- versally died. And from an experience of some ten years in my own practice and that of others, I am decidedly under the im- pression, that typhoid fever may be as successfully treated, and brought as much under the control of remedial agents, as an\ other fever of as malignant a type. If I am wrong, it is but the honest conviction of my mind, backed and sustained by my past experience in the management of the disease—not presuming, however, to avow that I am better posted than others of my professional brethren. And with bright anticipations of the future, the bow of promise now looms up before us with all its variegated beauties, givinp encouragement to the afflicted and wayworn, that the time will yet come when on the mountain top and in the vallev, remedies will be found commensurate with the afflictions of man, and he shall live out his "three -core and ten," and return to the earth fall of years and covered «ith honor, to rest in peace. JAS. W. PRICE, Nl. D., ^•[iiY^HlSH^ * LETT Sit DltAtf, ■A.TLA3STTA, Go. 11 wix't; been absent, as Surireon in the Army, during the last -•iv months, would resi.ectfully inform the afflicted at a distance, as well as the citizens of Atlanta Hm\^adjacent country, that he has ao-'iin en-a-'od in the practice of medicine, m all ol its va» ous branches^ ^Although Vircufhslnnees seem to make it neces- sary to increase his rate ol%h*rges, yet this will not be done, but his fees will be as heretofore. It will be unneeessarv to reiterate the loot ot his unlimited access in curing the various and diversified chrome diseases which human nature is liable. Especially has his attention been directed to the treatment of FEMALE DISEASES, such :.- l'rolrn'.y expenses, and live dollars per day, while absent from the city. r&r()VVi<oz.er, M. 1X ; E. L. n.smv, , Pernio lbown, (ten. Ira Foster Pev. II. ( . ornaday Cen . . H. Pice, Atlanta, Ga.; Pev. S. Anthony. ( utbbert, Gn., D...L Dillworth, Stone Mountain, Ga. # U allbrds me pleasure in .aiding my testimony to the abme, as well a> recommending to my friends and j,r//,-o„«, .lames \\ . IW M D-, as a phvsician of skill in the treatment ,,l a acute .leeascs w- VV- Pl'l'H.VM, M. J» Atlanta. August 25, |si;-_\ r a «. ^«C WEl C *'C< - C "CCC «fbCLC C« <~r. c C: c ccc . «iU << :.'•.<<:«^ <. «<« «^ «.< <.*i ^T < ""' C €C CfC ' . or t c< <,C S V c c ^Zc«C! < C-«.