Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-07-20
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Remarks Of John J. Steeie,.M ID. Of .Ne,o York,
on .Wercury, lie Lancet, and The KNIFE. Dr.
y Steele is reformed OIL .Schooi Physiciaa
Every nun who thinks or reflects for mo-
meni upon the irail nature OF inan-t the dis
eases which afiict him, and the system Of
practice pursued 10y modern physicians, must
come 10 the conclusion. that the inordinute
use OF mercury and other mineral pOisons the
abuse OF the lancet, and the irrational use Of
instruments IN surgery and midwifery, are
fruitful sources OF disease and death to thou
sands. This is an evident fact at first sight.
EN, follow up the subject--cal to the mnd
the numerous Instances that have occurred
in your ne. hborhood, of persons who have
been poisoned by mercury. killed by bleed
ing, or bntchered into eternity by the knife
in surgery, and the forceps in midwifery, aud
then say honestly what you think Of the pre-
sent system Of practice.
An inGuisitive people must discover that
the old system is both defective and danger
ous. What disease can its disciples cure?-
Examine critically what they prescribe, aud
you will find their remedies consist Of mercu
ry, antimony, lead, bleeding, &c. all of which
are dlsease-crcating remedies, and all Of
which act in direct opposition to the laws OF
our animal nature. Is then such u course OF
condnct.in relation to one of the most import
ant objects OF human life, to bo sanctioned by
popular opinion? The people certainly are
awaking out Of sleep on tins oil important
subject. The light of reform is spreading far
and wide, and IA still small voice beginning
to DO heard from oue end of our country
To the other. Physicians, you are IN error
Your iniiscriminnte use Of fmercuy, The ianctt
L.. E.,.f.
riGiing the sum Of human misery! RejOrm!-
Reform The abuses Of The healing art, amt IN
decor 10 become BLESSING 10 lie human Jami-
,y. This voice Of enlie ehiened public opinion
begins to wax louder and louder, and it un-
needed by medical men, sentence will SON
be passed upon them from the bar Of public
opinion.
Every one who has given the subject Of
medicine the least attention has discovered
that, first, the common mode of practice is
unequal in contending against disease sec
ondy, that it is the most easy and profitable
to the physician who pursucs it ;-and third
Ily, that it is dangerous to the sick. 1t is unc-
quail, because upon close examination. you
find that it rarely IT ever cures dccp-scated
or malignant disease. and that most Of those
who do recover, recover from constitutional
vigor. 1t is profitable, because a lancet and
II pound of calome will not cost two dollars,
and the nent profits, independent of visits, will
exceed one hundred f; and moreover, how ca
sy for medical dandy to carry his lancet in
one vest pocket, and his calomel IN the other.
But it is dangerous. Every man upon mo-
nenl's reflection must admit the high linpOri-
ance of the blood in the animal economy, aud
the rcusonableness OF the supposition, that no
more blood is formed ia Cur system than Is
necessary, and that upon the proper quantity
Of blood depends the measure OF health we
enjoy. Now if it were possible for man to
generate too much blood, or that in certain
states of diseased excitement the removal of
disease depended upon a diminution Of the
volume Of blood, would not the Gud Of ! atui
have provided such an outlet? None howe,-
er exists from the blood, for all natural dis
ease-removing processes are carried on
through the medium Of the stomach, the bow
els,the kidneys,and the skin. Besides bleed
ing in every cnse both of health aud disease,
in proportion to the amount taken, destroys
the balance of circulation, and robs the sys-
TEN Of its most valuable treasure and support;
this balance must be restored, and this lrca-
sure replaced before healtliiul action can
be complete in the system.
Again, the old practice is dangerous, be-
cause its renee dial agents are unnatural mine
raj poisons. The bad effects Of caloInel or
mercury upon the system are not sufficiently
known or admitted 1t exerts most powerful
influence upon the liver and other glands; it
is one of the most fruitful causes of liver com
plants, cOnsumptons, kings-evil, dropsies,
dyspepsics, &c. that exist in the present day.
! know full well the effects of mercury up
on the human system, for 4iave tried it in
every shape, and for almost every disease, and
have uniformly found it attended with risk,
and if pushed to salvation, absolute conse-
quences Of dangerous character, either o.
pen or hidden, were produced. This fact il
no secret to the physicians who administer it,
Tor they admit amongst themselves, and in
thor writings, that mercury does produce dis
ease of the most disagreeable and dangerous
character. Why then persist IN the use Of il?
But it they will persist in the face of all the
evidence they have, and in defiance of all mo-
raj obligations imposed by the sixth CON-
mandment, surely the people cannot be so in.
fatuated as deliberately to swallow down the
seeds Of certain disease and death. Nsy.the
mass of them will halt and consider.
Is it asked what will we substitute for mer-
curry and the knife?-we answer that for mi
neral posons, we substitute the vegetables
that grow in Natures Garden. We have
tried them, and we find them abundanty sue
ccssful. All that is required Of US
is to know the medicinal quality Of each
plant, and the disease it is designed to cure,
then when we are sick, we may put forth our
hand aud take it as the boon Of Heaven.
Some physicians of,he old school
will ieer and mock. and lie, and slandcS but
their efforts to put down our system will be
in vain. The mass Of the people ure on our