W3J 5&W a 1857 ^:/ v'-V'^* ^aiiniimiipwiiliiii ttgjwr^BWwM**1* ADDRESS IN BEPUTATSON OP THE Thomsonian System of Medical Practice. DELIVERED IN THE LECTURE ROOM 0» THE Chester Co* Cabinet of Natural Science, West Chester, Pa, ,^^f^r-r /YA M •' ON DECEMBER 31,1836- BY STMNER STEBBINS, M. D. '"2:*hr- WEST CHESTER, Pa. 1837. VJ3T S8'Ua, Ladies & Gentlemen : I appear before you this evening, not so much for the purpose of refuting the "Thomsonian System," as of making an exposition of it. It is not my intention to attempt any reply to the Lectures which have been delivered upon thissubject.during the past and present week, by a gentleman from Philadelphia. I had not the good fortune of hearing but three of his discourses. The first was an Introductory, but to what, I eoiifess 1 was at a loss to determine. It appeared to be a kind of rhetorical bluster about matters and things in general—a sort of ora- torical omnibus, that might have answered for any purpose or any subject under heaven, save that of medicine. The two next consisted principally of vile accusations, and the most rancorous abuse of the medical profession, with a med- itation on the death of Washington, a few flights upon the "pleasures of hope," a few ticklers for the ladies, his own conversion and recantation, the pathology of consumption, a yankee story, and some very interesting obserrations up- on a new kind of malady, which he denominated Thomson- phobia. To all of which I shall say nothing, except that I intend in the course of my remarks to read you Thomson's chapter on consumption, for the purpose of showing the striking dissimilarity between that gentleman's views, and those of the great father of the system. And well may it be asked who shall decide when Thomsonians disagree ? My object on the present occasion is merely a disclosure, of something which has been a good deal talked about of late, without being, as I think, well understood. I shall en- deavor as far as I am capable, to give you a fair understand- ing of it, in order that you may be able to judge of its mer- its for yourselves. The whole system is comprised in the small volume, / (Thomson's New Guide to Health) which I hold in my hand, the price of which is twenty dollars. This book is one which I borrowed from a gentleman in New-Garden, who is only part owner, it being the property of three indi- viduals, citizens-of this county, The book contains upon (4) its first page the form of an agreement, to be entered info,. between the proprietor of the system and the purchaser, binding the author to give, whenever applied to, any infor- mation that shall vbe necessary to a complete understanding of the system, and in consideration of such information, and also what is contained in the book itself, the purchaser is bound in the spirit.of mutual interest and honor, not to reveal any part of said information to any perse-,-!, except those who purchase the right, under the penalty of forfeit- ing his word and honour, and all right to the.use of sue!: medicines as .ire recommended in the book. Hmw this book was obtained I know not, but, I believe the purchasers pro- cured it in such a way as to elude the "agreement." I am acquainted with two of them, arid I know them to be the las* men in the world that would forfeit their word and honor, even if by doing so, they were enabled to expose r. detestable fraud upon the community. Eut in order to plaee this part of the subject in its true light, I beg leave; to read an extract from a communicalion which appeared a few years ago, in one ef the county papers, and which \v;:e. written by the gentleman who had the kindness to lend me this book:— "The first thing which an inquirer into tiio ''new system'' learns, is that it is "patent," and that before he can he initiated into its mysteries, he must pay tf20 dolors for the book which contains them. But if he fcnoiibf chance to be a prse- prncticing physician, he mnstp^y five hundred dollars i(.v lite same privilege.—Twenty ihflimit is the i.nce ^'"aVi'oniily rigid,' and Jive hundred dollars the prjee of a" right" to practice it as a profession. To tiie unitiated, the r"ice may seem exorbi- tant for a small duodecimo .volume' of three hundred l-ircs, got up too in the coarsest nt. ;iner. But, on opening the hook, by is met by a formal agrceimat between the author nnd himseif, made in "the spirit of mu'ual interest and honor," binding the former "to givo whenever applied to, any information Ihsr. shall be necessary to give a coin b te understan :ng" of his: system; and imposing upon the >.\v,vr. an obligat;o:i of; rofourwl secrecy, except «,o the initiated. The purchaser has hmvevar, by right to of purchase, obtained admission into t!s- ''Friend- ly Botanic Medical Soeiety," with.-all' its4tb'«s'.mj honota" <>■■-. him, and is moreover, entitled to tha *ariv:lege o \i frca in- tercourse with the members, for information a;, j friemilv at«i«- tance.M J ^ "It is a fit subject for inquiry, whether the dio-cv'rv r»f Thotasonianism'* :s embraced in the true irte .ion and nctir (5) sng of the patent law? and whether Samuel Thomson is entitled to its benefits? The design of ihe patent law unquestionably 5?, to promote learning and the improvement of the arts and sciences, by securing the advantages of new and UBeful discov- eries to their authors, as a remuneration for their talents and time. If the author ofthe"new system" can be admitted in evidence to show how hs acquired his knowledge, his right to a patent may be fairly questioned. Ho says: "Ifinally con- cluded to make use" of that gijt which I thought the God of nature had implanted in me—and if I possessed such a gift, I had no need of learning—for no one can learn that gift.'" ,lI am convinced myself, that I possess a gift in healing the sick; beeause of the extraordinary success I have met with, and tho protection and support Providence has afforded me against the attacks of all my enemies. This belief ia either true or it is not true. If it is true,—if Heaven did reveal to him what he professes to possess—I am unacquainted with any principle on which to justify his patent. Because if heaven does confer gifts to heal the sick, and if it has conferred such a gift on one man, it may confer a similar gilt on another—on a hundred or on a thousand other men. I suppose the "patentee" will not dany this. What then is the object of his patent? Does he exoect by that means to secure to himself the revelations of the God of'natiire? Does he in- tend t) sfiy the hands of the bountiful giver of every good and pertei t a\i'• •.nuism isentitledio the high sanction which it claim* i »,-ive no pretensions to—ne.: her can it stand in n^-d f»f—trie ...ttecii-in which the patent law affords. I ther.;Jor« f* ■>.{; myrolf at liberty, and would hold any other per.-ou ex,«',! • ; ''^ fut using any divine gift ho may be so fortune, is m j^saesd, without asking the pes nisiion of Samuel Tl>< u-ofi. Does tho author of th«.' 'new .-• i ." rta'ly possesses the gift which he professes* lo'excn;",- ../ :"w< --but T•'•■h-itm «piain?ed with any in- stance of such a gift. (•; peryoYm ,!!'K'i'JlJl ordinary tdree, by a 1 system' of ordinary f isjjfie?.• J, no one under considers riva be such a one, it is r'i iv .£ ntiri ■•-} r.» tho character it has essoin- ed, of a "NEWSY .f'YW." Now the author ■..•: tb(>» .,■,.,; ■,■>.■ ■■ her-does or does not pu^t--^ "a gift to health'; i.;'<." if'-... -j J;iri-t:f.8 :f. thun •«* aave- (6) his own declaration, written by himself, that "no one cam learn that gift;" and by good consequence, that he cannot commu- nicate the knowledge or efficacy of it to others. Yet in the face of his own declaration—that "no one can learn that gift"—he makes merchandize of it, and "agrees to give whenever applied to, any information that shall be necessary to give a complete understanding of the obtaining, preparing and using all such veg- etables as are made use? of in said system; to all such as purchase the right." He is, therefore subject to the charge of swindling the ignorant and credulous out of their money, under the specious pretence of furnishing them with knowledge which he knows cannot be communicated, because "no one can learn tbat gift." In so doing, ba abuses hia gift, he profanes holy things. But if he does not possess the gift, then he is chargeable with im- pious presumption, in making pretensions to such a gift when he does not possess it, for the wicked purpose of obtaining the peo- ple's money by gross imposition and falsehood. It is daring im- piety. He may take which horn of the dilemma he chooses. In like manner, the advocates of "Thomsonianism" either do or they do not believe it to be of Heavenly origin.' If they do so believe, and if the "gift" cannot be communicated to others— "if no one can learn that gift"—from whence have they learned it' Either they have not learned it, or the twenty dollars or five hundred dollars "right," as tha case may be, is used as a permit and an order on the God of nature to bestowed the "gift" upon the purchaser of the book. Will the Thomsonians ac- knowledge their ignorance, or will they ttibscribe to this blas- phemous consequence ? But perhaps they do not believe in the Heavenly origin of the "new system"—in the extra-ordinary and *up any more than we can in water. I 23 ) From these conditions, it results, that if we take a warns blooded animal and immerse it in water of the same tem- perature with itself, it will die without loosing its heat. In ■ the same way, if we take a cold blooded animal, a fish, for instance, and immerse it in air of its own temperature, it will die without loosing its heat. In the Thomsonian lan- guage, these animals die without losing their lives III__ But if these experiments were made with water and air, warmer than the animals immersed in them, they would actually acquire more heat by the process. In the Thom- sonian language, they would die w>hile they were acquir- ing more life I ! ! If we take a warm blooded animal, just ushered into ex- istence, and immerse it in water of the same temperature of the parent body, before it has had an opportunity of breathing, it will die for want of air, while its heat is pre- served. In the same manner, if we take a fish from its native Btream, and place it iu a vessel of water of the same temper- ature, under the receiver of an air pump, when the receiv- eris exhausted so as to deprive the water of its air, the fish will die for want of air, while its heat is preserved. Here, again, in the Thomsonian language, they die for want of air while their lives are preserved !!! But an increase of temperature is as inimical to "life" as the diminution of it. Indeed, few living beings can bear 33 great a departure from their natural temperature on the ascending scale as on the descending one. The ordinary temperature of a man is 98 degrees, yet he is frequently exposed to a temperature from seventy-five to one hundred below this, without any very great inconvenience. When the temperature of the surrounding medium rises only a few degrees above his own, he suffers severely ; but if this ex- cess was raised to 75 or one hundred degrees, it would be no longer supportable and he would soon die from excess of "life" ! !as deed is accomplish- ed. If they can by such means » Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath." Then is their doctrine irrefragable* it may defy all oppose tion. But if on the contrary, (hey cannot breathe, the breath of life into the livid corpse, by infqsing heat, then is it,as certainly, as undeniably false. • I pass on to a brief examination ;of the 2d article of the Thomsonian Cteed— "Cold is the cause of all disease and death.' And here 1 may remark if it be tr^e that cold is theeause of all tb< ills that flesh is heir to, she discovery * an important one, not only for the treatment it indicates in moat cases, but c (26) for the light it throws upon the nature and quality of many morbific agents, which have been subjects of a vast^deal of useless speculation. People have heretofore been of the opinion, that many of the most formidable disorders were propagated by a specific contagion : but if this doctrine m true, the virus of small pox, and every other in- oculating or infectious agent is nothing more nor less than the concentrated essence of cold ; the opinion of the Chem- ists that there is no such a thing as a substance called cold to the contrary notwithstanding. You have doubtless all heard of such a thing as marsh miasmata—paludal ef- fluvia,—morbific emenations—epidemic contagions,—veg* eto—animal exhalations—malaria, and other appellations which have been conferred on an invisible, intangible, uh- definable, and hitherto nnascertainable something which has been only appreciated by its effects, but which is to- tally unknown in its essence. Now it remained for a sim- ple unsophisticated child of nature, an untutored son of the Granite State, who obtained his knowledge of astrono- my as did the astrologers of old, by laying on his back and gazing at the stars ; who acquired his knowledge of the nature of what he calls "the four elements/' by stupidly stareing at the earth and its waters, and who gained all his knowledge of the healing art "at the bedside of his pa* lients," it remained for him to reveal the nature and prop* erties of this so much talked of malaria. He discovered, and the discovery was intuitive of course, for he says himself that he never went to school but one month in his life, he discovered that it was—cold—yes, nothing but tha quint essence of cold. But unfortunately for Thomson and his system, his diseoveries, all turn out to be mere *ufi- fiositions. He supposed, that "heat was life;*' he supposed that "cold was the cause of all disease; he supposed, that whenever there was what he calls a "balance of outward and inward heat," there was always death in the pot; he supposed, also, that the rat that bit the roan on one of his eyebrows, was mad, that his madness was caused by eating ratsbane ; and any of his suppositions is quite as rational as anether. His§uppotitipns, discoveries, and conclusions, (21 ) are all of the same stamp; and possess equal importance. They remind me of one of Dean Swift's characters, (a venerable philosopher,) who supposed, that sunbeams might be extracted from seed cucumbers, and who labored eight years to prove it. The subject of malaria is one which has engaged the attention of physicians ever since the days of Hippocretes. Dr. Macculloch, one of the most learned and talented me of Great Britain, has lately written a profound and masterly work of 448 pages, on the production and propagation of this poison, and on the na- ture and localities by which it is produced ; with an enu- meration of the diseases caused by it, and the means of preventing or diminishing them both in England and in the Naval and military service of that country. He con- siders malaria, as the destroying angel, the real pestilence that walks at noon day ; and to which all the other causes of mortality are but as feeble auxiliaries in the work of destruction. In speaking of its effects on the inhabitants of some part of Europe, he holds the following language: " Let us turn to Italy: the fairest portions of this fair land are a prey to this invisible enemy, its fragrant breezes are poi- son, the dews of its summer evenings are death. The banksof its refreshing streams, its rich and flowery meadows, the borders of its glassy lakes, the luxuriant plains of its overflowing agri- culture, the valley where its aromatic shrubs regale the eye and perfume the air, these are the chosen seats of this plague, the throne of Malaria. Death here walks hand in hand with the sources of life,sparing none: the laborer reaps his harvest but to die, or he wanders anud the luxuriance of vegetation and wealth, the ghost of a man, a sufferer from hia cradle to his im- pending grave ; aged even in childhood, and la-ying down in miserylhat life which was but one disease. He is even driven from some of the richest portions of this fertile yet w> bappy country ; and the traveller contemplates at a distance, dessrU, but desert3o/'vegetable wealth, which maa dares not approach, —or he dies." Such are the opinions of Dr. Macculloch. How unfor. tunateffor him & his country that he had not read Thomson's book before he wrote his own I He would there have seen that cold and not malaria, was the universal cause of dis- ease ; that it is au enemy to mankind more terrible than ( 28 ) ail the plagues of fumed pandora's box, and that Iic-.it is the universal and infallible antidote. He might have saved himself the time and labor of writing a book, partic- larly if he had become a convert to the Th>.:isoni;in faith, as the Thomsonians condemn and despise all books, at le-Rs': all.medical books, except the New Guide to Health. Tba';. id with them the alpha and omega in medicine,—the !:.•- g-ining and the end, the first and the last. A few words upon the phisological effects of cold or lew temperature, and of its agency in the prodii-~lio:i of disease, will I think, explode Thomson's notions upon this subject. When the temperature to which the human system is ex* posod, is so low as to give the sensation of cold, its iriime; diale effects are 1st a diminution of the action of the cu-' taneous exhalents, and of the external cupilary bloud ves- sels, giving rise to a pale, shrunken, and dry state of the skin. 2d, Diminished action of the heart and arteries, manifested by smallness and weakness of the pulse. 5d| Diminished sensibility of the external pai'.'^/p-issir--by degrees throughout the whole system. Hence the boauV-b* ed state of the hands, and the other external parts, ? he- torpor of the mental functions, and the sluggishness and feebleness of muscular action, which oecurfrom the pro- tracted influence of severe cold. But when moderately applied or endured, cold increases the pavers of the tff- digestive organs, hence the eppotite is keoaer, and the process of nutrition is performed more rapidly in moderate- ly cold and d<-y, than in warm weather. "Ma;;, and all nft- imalsare fatter in winter than in summer; and at the north than in the south." Cold acts on man is:, bv a Jo-m- property direct, derived fromvital rencf;■>■>. 2dly by'aton' ic property indirect, resulting from abstraction of Hea* stimulus, preventing thereby excessive diffusion and dV the fall and winter, the latter by a coo! :-r.e, or cool bath in summer. But the effect of low S ^y,F:i;urc is ly no means simple; it is complicated and varies according lo « ts.apphed. It acts at first as a stimulant, i« exciting- (29) sensation ; then as a tonic, in condensing the living fibre ; and, lastly, however paradoxical it may seem, as a sedative, by preventing that distribution of blood into the minute and ultimate vessels, which is necessary for theexistance of sensibility and irritability, and also by the abstraction of the stimulous of heat. Moderate heat, like moderate cold, excites organic action. Heat exalts sensibility, but diminishes contractility; the moderate action of heat and cold is alike conducive to the support of life ; their immoderate effects aliJce injurious, since they anihilate moral and physical power. Extreme heat causes apathy and languor, dissolution of the blood and other fluids, gan- grene, and death. Excessive cold chills, benumbs^ debili- tates, and produces even mortification and loss of life. It is admitted that the sudden abstraction of animal beat gives rise to morbid or unhealthy action in the human sys- tem. It is not however merely cold or low temperature that is the cause of disease, so much as vicisitudes of tem- perature j sudden changes from warm to cold, or from cqld to warm weather, are the sources whence disease is so abundantly derived. A very gradual change of atmospher- ic temperature, rarely produces disease, except in suchas are peculiarly predisposed to influences of this kind- The mode in which the loss of heat may give rise to disease is simple and easily understood. Its f|rst effect is a torpidity of the skin, and a retreat of the blood from the. surface to the internal organs. The perspirable matter is hereby re- tained, and the blood rendered more irritating, or at least, surcharged with offensive substances. In consequence of these morbid conditions, tho heart is excited to increased action, by which the blood is again propelled into the ex- ternal capillary system, -wiihpul however, overcoming the torpor of the ex!i;ilpnt.j. If aay portion of the capillary vessels be predispos-:-■'< by previous d>r,rity to morbid ex- citement, high v.isr- 1 i ;; ;f,^iion, \vili be apt to occur in this pail, and probi'i,' <» t'.~ extent of actual incarnation. Should (he -u.- ■>".■■■ ■> ^r.um.of the respiratory passages be predisp" '■■ i<-;, ^atarrh^or inflamationof the lungs wt'l '■-. :..,■.-. quy.n,c«r if (he alimentary canal ( 30 ) he m a state of accidental or habitual irritation, dysentar? or inflamation of the stomach will probably occur. In short, whatever part of the system may be in a condition pecu- liarly predisposed to disease, inflamation or high vascular irritation, will most likely be dcvcleped in it, by the in- creased momentum of the blood, and the immediate local impressions of offensive matter retained in it. Such are some of the effects of cold, and here it is that we perceive the blundering ignorance of Thomson and his deciples. Instead of looking upon cold as the agent ot in- flamation, or febrile rcar/ton, and upon inflamation or fever itself, after it is developed, as the disease, Timmson main- tains that cold, as a positive substance, actually takes pos- session of what he calls "the inside of the system," and by force of arms, drives the heat, or life, or inflamation, or fever, or friend, as he sometimes calls it, out, upon the surface—and this is his opinion in what constitutes dis- ease in all cases. " There is no other difference in all cases of fever (says Thomson) than what is caused by the different degrees of cold, or loss of inward heat, which are two adverse parties in one body contending for power. If the heat gains the victory, the cold will be disinherited, and health will be restored; but, on the other hand, ifeold gains the aseencency, heat will be dispossessed of its em- pire, and death will follow of course. When the power of cold is nearly equal to that of heat, the fever or strife between the two parties, may continue for a longer or shorter time, according to circumstances ; this is what is called a long fever, or Jever and ague. The battle be- tween cold and heat will take place periodically, sometimes every day, at other times every other day, and they will leave off about equal, heat keeping a little the upfier hand. When it is said that a fever will turn at such a time, I pre- sume it must mean that it has been gone ; this is true, for it is then gone on the outside, and is trying to turn again and go inside where it belongs." What outlandish stuff. The idea that the old moons are cut up to make stars of. is not a whit more rediculous. Thomson went upon the ab- surd supposition that the internal parts of a person labor- (31 ) sng under fever or other inflamatory disease are in all ca- ses as much colder than they ordinarily are in a state of health, as the surface is warmer ; and it is upon this false and groundless supposition, that he and his deciples en- deavor to •'raise the inward heat" by administering in all inflamatory affections, the most exciting, stiuuilatrmg and inflamatory mixtures. Could anything be more preposter- ous ; more contrary to reason and common sense, or more destructive to human life. One would naturally conclude that before adopting such a theory he would have taken some means to ascertain the fact as to whether the temper- atureof the stomach and other internal organs is really lower in case of fever than it is in a state of health. But no such examination was ever made by him. He constructed hie theory upon the truth of which depended the lives of ht3 fellow beings, but the aid of what little fancy he possessed "not only regardless of this fact, but in opposition to all others. The ^hing however, has often been tested before Thomson was born,and the result has proved that sofar from a diminution there is an increased temperature in every in- stance. In fact, in nearly every caseof fever,there is moreor less inflamatio;i of the mucous membrane which lines the stomach and bowels. This is accompanied with a sensation of internal heat, moreor less pain, great thirst, and aj anx- ious desire for cold water. Now instead of giving cold water, which is one of nature's remedies, and which alone has been known (o effect a Cure—instead of using such means as have a tendency to allay irritation, calm excite- ment, and cut short, or check the ravages of the dis- order, the Thomsonian uses every effort in his power to " increas the fever," which he considers as his particular "friend," and in order to do this he pours down the throat of his patient a compound of brandy, cayerwie pep- per, and gum myrrk, which he calls "No. 6." Now the effects of this upon the delicate membrane which lines the alimentary canal which is already in an inflamed state, may be readily inferred from what you all know of its ef- fects when applied to an inflamed eye. Is not all the bar- barity of such a practice self-evident. In nine eases out ( 32 ) often, it will product, what it has produced in several in- stances in this county, where it has heen tried, fatal infla- mation of the stomach, tumultuous excitement throughout the whole system, and the most wild and ungovernable mania. But the administration of stimulating diaphoret- ics, hot drinks, deer in febrile disease is not a new prac- tice. It is a system of antiquated ignorance and absurdity that converted the remitant fever so often epidemic in Europe (but with a very moderate mortality in this age) in- to the most terrific of scourges. It was this murderous, though now long exploded practice lhat rendered small pox between the llth and ITth centuries the most dread- ful of pestilences, converting all Europe into one vast hos- pital, enshrouding whole nations in the sable weeds of woe..-—sweeping off annually near half a million of its inhabitants. It was this piatice that gave such mortality to the black and various other plagues, putrid and gangren- ous fevers, that for so long a time devastated different por- tions of Asia, Africa and Europe. It was reserved for the immortal Sydenham to reverse this stupid treatment of disease, by introducing sanguine depletion, cool air, and cool drinks, and the result was the greatest achievement in the whole circle of the sciences in diminishing human suffering and a waste of life. Nor is the practice of steam- ing or the use of the vapour bath, original with Thomson, as its origin is lost in the shades of a remote antiquity___ The ancients considered the skin as the only outlet for all the morbid humors they fancied Jurked in the system, and which they believed were the cause of every disease, These erroneous opinions, the result of a limited and im- perfect knowledge of Anatomy, were the parent of a most pernicious practice. They were in the habit of keeping their patients in a profuse perspiration for several weeks in succession. Under this piaciice, diseases assumed a malignancy and a fatality, wholly unknown at the present day—and to it alone may he traced some of the most mor- tal and wide wasting plagues that aver scourged the human race. ( 33 ) But although its sole and indiscriminate use in all dis- eases proves incalculably destructive to human life, yet as an important and indispensable means when timely and properly employed in the treatment of many diseases, it has been known and resorted toby all nations and people, both savage and civilized, on the face of the Globe, and it is this practice which has prevailed to a greater or less ex- tent through all past time, that Thomson has included in his "patent" as his discovery. Thomson appears not to have been awaro, that perspir- ation is a fluid which is secreted from the blood, by the extremities of the small arteries of the skin ; and that sweating, is a powerful method of depletion; that it may be carried so far, even in a healthy person, as to produce exhaustion, and in particular stages of certain diseases, fa- tal debility. He appears also, to have been ignorant that it is a vehicle by which immense quantities of heat or what he calls life is conveyed out cf the system; that it is by vaporation along with what is discharged from the lungs, which constitutes the principal means of cooling the body, and by which it is enabled to maintain itself within certain limits of temperature. This vaporation or cutaneous trans- piration varies at all limes according to the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere, and were it not for its irigorific influence, the heat of summer, even in our own nothcrn latitude, would be insupportable. Thomson little thought when engaged in sweating his patients, he was thereby abstracting both their blood and their heat. He and his hopeful deciples, ought certainly to consider, when about to apply ihe steam, how much "internal heat," or Thomsonian life, they rob the human system of in this way. I might goon and show the mischievous effects of the Thomsonian practice, in nearly every disease that human nature is subject to, but time will not permit. In hundreds of eases that I might mention, it would be as certainly fa- tal as a musket ball shot though the heart. I have read you enough, however, from the twenty dollar book, lo show that the whole affair is fool born,—that it is u.effably sib- ( 34 ) ly in theory, and equally pernicious in practice. After you have heard one page, you are just a3 wise as you wwdd be, if you had read the whole. It all consists in an endless repetition of such stuff' as the following: "Heat is life anil cold death ; fe*er is a friend and cold the enemy ; it is therefore necessary to aid the friend and oppose tho enemy, in order to restore health." "The higher the fe- ver rJns, the sooner the cold will be subdued." "Taking away the blood reduces the htat, and gives power to tha cold, and the coldness of the stomach causes canker."— 'To take away part of the blood, therefore, is taking away jnst so much of their life, and is as contrary to nature, as it would be to out away part of'he flesh." "All constitu- tions are alike, being formed of the four elements ; all dis- ease proceeds from one cause and might be cured by one general remedy." "When the outward heat becomes equal with the inward, either by the ones being raised or the others being lowered, cold assumes the power and death takes place." "When the inward and outward cold is ballanced, life ceases, and the blood being stopped in its motion, settles in spots which appearance has given mine to what is called'spotted fever. The same appear- ances take place on drowned persons, and from the same cause." Such are the semile puerilities, of Thomsonian- ism. Is it not strange that such discharges of a fistulous brain should be taken for medical truth by those to whom nature has not altogether denied reason upon other sub- jects. But such gross delusions do not last long; like fancy's frost work, or like bubbles on the water, they vanish at the fi est touch of investigation, nor leave a trace behind. I will conclude this discourse by a few general remarks upon the, articles which the Thomsonians make use of as remedial agents. And first and foremost, I may mention Lobelia, which is well known as one of the most loathsome and nausceous weeds in the whole veo-etablo kingdom. This article is noticed by every writer "on tho Materia Medica, that I have ever read, and I regret that I have neither time to give you their different views of its properties, nor to speak of tho many cases in which it is ( 35) Relieved to have proved fatal. Like many other medicines, it is useful in certain cases, and not onlj useless, but high- Jy pernicious in others. It will net do for indiscriminate use; in this respect it is much less harmless than Ipecacu- anha. Butternut bark (I use Thomson's own names) a powerful and drastic purgative, causing violent griping, watery, and sometimes, bloody discharges. Cayenne pep- per, a very improper article in many of the acute diseases, but which the disciples of Thomson administer in all cas- es. Even in a state of health, if taken in large and fre- quent doses, it gives rise to visceral obstructions especial- ly of the liver. Myrrh, a pungent irritating medicine wkich ought to be used with great caution, an over-dose is always dangerous. Skunk Cabbage, an acrid penetrating irritant of fearful power in the most skilful hand. This ar- ticle in large quantities produces the most violent effects, causing a burning pain at the pit of the stomach, great, cerebral distress, and finally death. Hemlock, Yellow Dock, Nettle Spring, Balsam Fir, Wake Bobbin, Feather- few, Clivers, Blue and White Veryine, Sumach, Archan- angel, Burdock, Horse Radish, Sal Amoniac, Pearlasb, Spirits of Turpentine, Brandy, &c. &c. Thomson rails out against the use of all mineral substances, as medicines J yet if we are to believe his own story, he cured himself of the yellow fever by taking salt and vinegar. This was decidedly the greatest cure recorded in his book, and one which has the most appearance of truth about it. Where any one, however, io inform him, that the Muriate of Soda, (common table salt) was a mineral, he would no doubt pronounce it a malicious slander, raised by the Doctors for the purpose of throwing odidum upon his "System."— There is not one of the articles I have mentioned that will not cause death if given in sufficient doses; not one but will produce the same effects in small quantities, if given under unfavorable circumstances; and be it remembered, that the Thomsonians contend that whatever is useful in one disease, cannot be injurious in any other. There is not a single article in "Thomson's materia mediea," as it !e called, that is not taken from the materia medice of the (36) regular practitioners, and employed by them whenever they think proper. Did these wild and brainless fanatics pretend only that their incendiary mixtures were useful in certain forms and stages of disease, and that their admin- istration required the utmost skill and discrimination to determine when they were indicated, their pretentions would not be disputed. But nothing shortof faith in his universal panacea, will satify the rapicity of an audacious qoack. No disease, however, appalling, will stay his ruth- less hand, or check his cold blooded temerity. Scrofula, cancer, insanity, hydrophobia, In short, all the various and complicated ills that flesh is subject to, he would persuade you are to yield to the virtues of his boasted "Efntf'-enre- all." In phthisis fiulmonalis, where the pillars of the con- stitution are assaulted and underminded, where the main springs are broken up and destroyed, where the very ful- crum on which the lever of vitality rests, is knocked away, and the whole fabric isfallinginto iruins, in such cases where the power to heal must be equal to create, it is, that these Foals rush in, Where Angels fear to tread." The wasting hectic, the life exhausting night sweats of the consumptive patient, whose lungs are filled with tuber- ctes, are all happy and encouraging symptons of a Thom- sonian. He doubles the doses of his nausosus Lobelia, multiplies his steam courses, and promises a speedy recov- ery until death closes the tragic scene. Still he is not con- vinced—he is incorrigible. Arrogance, vanity, and im- pudence, are so happily mixed up in him as to admit no rival attributes in his character. Filled with empty pre- tention, and clothed with the invulnerable panoply of ig- norance and self conceit, he is, indifferent alike to reproof or ridicule, which he modestly attributes to interest, envy or ill nature. But the worst fact, in the history of creep- ing vampires is, tha.t Ihey draw'their principal sustenance ifrom those who are least able* to afford it. Physicians in .alleges an,d a}I countries, h^eleen ip the habit or attend- ing the families of the poor gratis. In fact, they cbriside ( 3' ) it one of their most saered duties, in the performance of which they derive the mo3t exalted pleasure. Boerhaave, one of the brightest names that adorns the annals of the medical profession, considered the poor his " best patients, for (said he) God is their paymaster.'* See also Dr. Rush's lectures on the subject. The professors of the Universityof Pennsylvania fail not annually to bring this subject before their class in the most feeling and im- pressive manner. There is not a physician of any eminence in the cities, but has stated hours set apart each day, for'giving advice to the poor " without money, and without price.'* Nor is there one in the country of any considerable practice, that does not give annually from one to three hundred dollars worth of services and medicine gratuitously. But these ravens will hover and croak round the hovels of the destitute and the ignorant, they will flourish their *' screw augur" and their " No. 6," with other unparraliel- ed compound, somewhat akin to the bubbling bell-biolh of Mtfcbeth's witches, and under the specious pretence of ma- king every one their own doctor, so that they can cure all diseases, they will wring the last cent from the hand of famished indigence, Their wonderful and almost in- stantaneous cures of diseases that have baffled the efforts of the most skilful, To count them all requires a thousand tongues, A throat of braes and adamantine lungs. But when we seek for facts, when we look for the evi- dence of these prodigious, these marvellous cures, they are to be found neither here nor there. The common cant of the Thcmsonians when trying to introduce their system is that the present practice of medicine is very uncertain, and that it needs improvement. It cannot bedemed that the peculiarities of organization, the idiosyncasiesof cotwtitu- tien, and the diversities of habit, and modes of living prev- alent in civilized society, render the practice of medicine, in many instances, somewhat unoertain. This is admitted o (38) and lamented by all, but by none more so than the en- lightened physician. "The perfection attainable by med- icine (says Professor Jackson) is that which belongs to those sciences whose principles are demonstrated, but whose practical application is frequently defeated by de- fectiveness in its instruments, er by the force of uncon- trollable accidents. Medicine, in this respect, will com* pare with navigation. The principles or theory of navi- gation have received an improvement that may be regard- ed as complete; but how numerous are the circumstances that render them useless, and their assistance unavailing. The skilful navigator, instructed in every branch of his profession, may conduct with safety his bark over the trackless deep, and through many a tempestuous gale and threatening storm ; but in the tornado, the hurricane, the dread typhon, when the embattled elements pour forth their fury and exhaust their rage; or when adverse cur- rents and resistless winds drive on a lee shore and rock* bound coast;—opposed to these, what is human power— what the skill, the knowledge of man t A strict analogy prevails in medicine. In the fatal derangements, conjes* tions, and effusions, that so often are rapidly induced in the Htal organs and centres of life, the instructed physician thoroughly understands the nature of the lesions, and the means by which relief could be procured. But where are they to be found ? They exist not in nature, and his skill and knowledge remain impotent. The perfection of med- icine will consist in the complete cultivation of the depart- ments of which it is composed; but however far it may be earried, there will always be diseases that will prove fatal. Lesion of structure is an element of disease. When of intense violence, disorganization rapidly, sometimes in- stantly ensues—or a total denaturalization of the solids ia gradually produced. These states once induced, the pow- er to heal must be able to create—the attribute and prerog- ative of Deity. The catalogue of the opprobrium medico- rum may be reduced by the improvement of the science, but it will never cease to exist." But will the casting \ away the recorded experience—the well attested facts--- (39 ) the collected wisdom of ages—and hunching, without •sompass or rudder, upon the ocean of empiricism, with no guide but blind and ignorant conjecture—have a tendency to improve the healing art? Are the indefatigable labors, the anxious toils, and the generous efforts of the sons of science and genius, in different countries and ages of the world, who have spent their whole lives in the dissecting rooms, interrogating the dead, that they might discover the true pathology of the diseases of the living;—are the gold- en sands of knowledge that have been accumulating for thirty centuries, to be thrown away, or exchanged for the raw conceits and stupid drivellings of Samuel Thomson 1 Will the sole and indiscriminate use of lobelia, red pepper, alcohol, and steam, in the hands of crafty knaves, and ig- norant charlatans, have a tendency to lesseu the mortality of disease, or " establish the practice of, medicine upon a more scientific basis." This is not the first system of empiricism, although it i* unquestionably the one most disreputable to the intelli- gence of the country. The land is full of it. We have Bone setters, and Water doctors, and Indian doctors, and Cancer curers, and Pow-wowers ; and those who work by all kinds of Magic ;to say nothing of an innumerable host of Pill maker«,many of whom find the business muchmore lu- crative lhan the physician whose practice is governed by scientific principles. Quackery always has existed, and always w ill exist, as an excrescence on society, until the people in general are convinced that " the proper study of mankind is man"—until the rudiments of anatomy and physiology are taught in our common schools, as they might be to the greatest advantage. It springs up in the soil of ignorance, it feeds upon gaping credulity, it grows rank in mental darkness. The quack, like his prototype, the buzzard, perches himself upon every dry limb, snuffing the tainted breeze in quest of prey ; he fattens upon the carrion of the community. But neither Thorasonianitm, nor Mormonism, nor witchcraft, nor any other kind of foolery, e*n be put down by Legislative enactments, by fines, or imprisonments^ and they th'ould not be if they ( 40 ) could. Such laws infringe the inalienable rights of the citizen. They ought to be met by unsleeping opposition They force, they exasperate, but do not convince the iniod The wid« dioW'>n of useful knowledge can alone dispel .:'i<-h gro?? delusions. Universal uduoation—fhe colossus nf light, reason -,iod liberty—aid.-a by tha urtiri n of-i fry*. vtcst, is the pfa/er-antido^ ( 41 ) APPENDIX. &j$tmet* from The Mew Guide t* Health, Theory and Practice. .CONSUMPTION. H This complaint is called by the doctors a beetie fever, because they are subject to eold chills and hot flashes on the surface ; but this an error, for there is no fever about it and this the greatest difficulty, if there was it would have •i crisis, and nature would be able to drivt out the oold, and effect a cure ; the only difficulty is to raise a fever, which must be done with such medicine as will raise and hold the inward heat, till nature has the complete com- mand. When the patient is very weak and low, they will have what is called cold sweats; the cause of this is not understood; the water that collects on the skin does not come through the pores, but is attracted from the air in the room, which is warmer than the body, and condenses on the surface; the same may be seen on the outside of a mug or tumbler on a hot day, when filled with eold water, which is from the same cause. FITS. These are produced by the same cause as other com- plaints, that is, cold and obstructions. 4d ( 42 )■ ST. ANTHONY'S FIRE. These are caused by overheating the system, and cool- ing too suddenly, which leaves the pores obstructed, and then by taking more cold, will bring on the warfare be- tween cold and heat. The only way to effect a cure, is to give the hot medicine, and steam till they are brought to; the same state of heat as that which first caused the dis- ease, and then cool by degrees. BILLIOUS CHQLIC. The name given to thi3 complaint is erroneous, for bil- lious means the bile, and no one ever heard of a bile chol- ic, or pain caused by the gall, as it is a friend to health, and never causes disease or death. PLEURISY. This is a distressing, complaint, and ir? caused by cold or want of inward heat. RELAX. This complaint is caused by indirection, or loss of the powers of the gall, which becomes thkk in consequence of cold, oi Ipss of inward heat, 'whci the stomach will be sour. RFJUMATISM. This complaint is aused by cold obstructing the natu- ral circulation, wb: :t causes pain and swelling. SORE LI PH. very ccmason in *,;,-./ hot or cold weathar, (43) when there is nearly a balance of the power of outward and inward heat, or outward and1 inward cold, which pro- duces canker. PILES. The piles is canker below the reach of medicine given in the usual way, and must be cured by using a wash of No. 3, made strong, and by giving injections of the same, with No. 2 (Cayenne pepper.) DYSENTERY. It is caused by cold, which gets the ascendancy over the inward heat. SMALL POX, The fashionable mode of treatment in this disease has been to give physic and reduce the strength by starving the patient, and keeping them cold. This is contrary to common sense, as it weakens the friend and strengthens the enemy, and the same cause would produce similar ef- fects in any other disorder. All that is necessary is to assist nature to drive out the canker and putrefaction which is the cause of the disease, by keeping the determining powers to the surface, in which case there will be no dan- ger. The same manner of treatment should be used in this complaint as has been directed for measks, viz:— When the symptoms make their appearance, give a dose of the composition powder, or of No, 2, (cayenne) to over- power the cold ; and when the second dose is given, add No. 1, to clear the stomach and promote perspiration ; as soon as this takes place the disorder will show itself on the outside. By continuingto keep the determining power to the surface, nature will take its regular course, and the disease will go off without injuring the constitution. If the bowels appear to be disordered, give an injectien ; and bs careful to kcefi the patient warm. ( 44 ) SORE HEADS IN CHILDREN. s This sore oftea comes after having had the itch ; it w a»ntagioua, being eaused by canker and putrefacuon- SURGERY. T« reiax the muscles in setting a bone. In eases where a joint is put out, or a bone broken, give a dose of No. 2, (cayenne pepper) or the composition pow- der, with half a tea spoonful of nerve-powder, which will promote a perspiration, prevent fainting, and quiet the nerves; then wrap the part in cloths wet vith water as hot as it can be borne, and pour on the warm water, placing a pan underneath to catch it, for a short time, when the mus- cles will become relaxed, so that the bones may be put in their place with little trouble. In case a shoulder is out of joint, I relax the muscles in the same manner, and put the arm over my shoulder, and lift up. RUPTURE. When the bowels come down, and remain any length of time, they become swelled, and are very painful, causing great distress and danger; and sometimes have proved. fatal, as they cannot be got up again till the swelling is removed. This may be effected by a course of the medi- cine without danger. TO STOP BLEEDING. External bleeding caused by wounds in the limbs, may be stopped by placing the wound higher than the body. MIDWIFERY. All the valuable instruction I ever received, was from a C, 45 ) woman in the town where I lived, who had practiced as a. midwite for twenty years; in an interview of about twenty minutes she gave me more useful instruction,, than all I ever gained from any other source. Women in a state of pregnancy, ought to be carried through a regular ourse of medicine, especially when near the time of delivery.. VVhoti in travail, give raspberry leaf tea, with a teaspoon- ful of composition powders, or No. 2, and keep them in a perspiration. After delivery, keep up the internal heat,.. by giving the composition powder or No. 2, (cayenne pep- per.) What is called bearing down pains in women, is from the same cause as piles; and must be relieved by injections made of witc-h-hazle or red raspberry leaf tea, steeped strong, with No. 2, strained. If this does not give relief, go through a regular course of medicine. All who purchase the right, may receive the necessary verbal in- struction, to enable them to do all that is required in the practice of midwifery, as well as to become their own phy*. ■neian and surgeon at a trifling expense-. MATERIA MEDICA; No. l. Lobelia. Powdered leaves and and pods in teaspoonfull doses, i'n< warm water and sugar. No. 2. Cavennk. This is a medicine of great value in the o«*ctiee, and may be Jkfely used in all cases ofdiscaat No 3, For Cankkr. Take Buberry root bark, white pond Lilly root, and the inner bark of hemlock, equal parts of each pounded and well mixed together; steep ooo ounce of the powder in a ( M) point of boiling water, and give for a doso a common wine glass full, sweetened. No 4. Bit i tins- Take the Bitter Herb, or Bulmony, Barberry and Poplar bark, equal parts, pulverized, one ounce of the powder to a pint of hot water, and half a pint ofspirit. For a dose, take half a wine glass full. For hot bitters, add a tea spoonfull 9fN<* 2. No. 5. Syrup. Take Poplar bark, and bark of the root of Bayberry.one pound each, and boil them in two gallons of water ; strain offend add seven pounds of sugar ; then scald and skim it, and add half a pound of Peachmeats, or the same quantity of Cherry-stone meats pounded fine. . When cool, add a gallon of good Brandy ; and keep it in bottles for use. Take a half a wine glassfull three times a day. No. 6. Take one gallon of good fourth proof Brandy, or any, kind of high wines, one pound of gam Myrrh pounded fine, one ounce of No. 2, and put them into a stone jug and boil it a few minutes in a kettle of water, leaving the jug unslopped. When settled, bottle it up for use. To be taken or applied externally, or to be put into the injec- tions. One or two tea spoonfulls of these drops may be given alone, or the same quantity may be put into a doss of either of the medicines before mentioned. There is hardly a complaint, in which this useful medicine cannot be used to advantage. COMPOSITION. Take two pounds of the Bayberry root, bark, one pound of the inner bark of Hemlock, one pound of Ginger, two, («) ounces of Cayenne, two ounces of Cloves,allj>euuded fine, sifted through a fine sieve, and well mixed together. For a dose, take a tea spoonfull of this powder, with an equal quantity of sugar, and put to it half a tea cupful) of boiling water. COUGH POWDER Take four tea spoonfulls of Skunk Cabbage, two of Hoar- hound, o;ie of Wake-robin, one of No. 1, one of No. 2, one of baberry bark, one of bittter root and one of nerve pow- der. Take half a tea spoonfull mixed with molasses*. NOTE. the reader will observe that the 31st and 32d pages of this work have been inadvertently transposed. NLM031936739