Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-06-13
For the Waterman and Joui nal.

The Chaldeans and Babylonians, we are
told by Herodous, carried their sick 10 the
public roads and markets that travellers might
converse with them, and communicate any
remedies which had been successfully used in
similar cases. This custom continued many
ages, in Assyria; and Sirabo states that il pre-
vailed also amongst the ancient Portuguese;
in this manner, however, the results OF expert
ence descended only by oral tradition. 1t vas
in the temple of Esculapious in Greece, tina,
medical information was first recorded dis.
eases and cnren were there registered on dura.
bile tablets Of marble /; the priests and priest
cssess, who were the guardians of the temple,
prepared the remedies and directed their appli-
cation, and thus commenced the profession of
physic.
As these persons were ambitious TO pass
for the descendants OF Esculapius, they assum-
cd the name of Asclepiudes. The writings of
Putarch and others abound with the articles
Of those early physicians.
Arstopancs describes in truly comic
manner The craft and pious avarice OF the
godly men, and mentions the doxterty and
promptitude with which they collected and
put Into their bags, the offerings of the ALTAR
The patients during this period, reposed on
the skins Of sacrificed rams, in order that they
might procure celestial visions. As soon as
they were believed TO be asleep, priest cloth
ed in the dress Of Esculapius, initiating his
manners, and accompanied by the daughters Of
the god that is the young actresses, thorough
" instructed in their parts, entered and deliv-
cred n medical opinion.
They believed in the inerrositon of super
natural powers in the direction of earthly
events, and this opinion has prevailed in every
age and country, in an inverse ratio with tho
state of civilization.
'ln the opinion Of the ignorant multitude"
says Lord Bacon, "witches and impostors have
always held n competition with physicians"
Gaen also complains of this circumstance,
and observes that his patients were more ODE
dent 10 the oracle in the temple Of Escuapus,
or TO their own dreams, than they were TO his
prescriptions. In truth there is an unacconnt-
able propensity in the human mind, unless
subjected to a long course of discipline, to in
dulge in the belief o. what is improbable and
inconsistent; and his is, perhaps, more con-
spicuous with respect 10 physic, than any other
affair Of common life, both because the nature
of diseases and the art Of curing them are more
obscure, and because diseases awaken fear
and fear and ignorance are the natural parents
Of superstition.
propensity 10 attribute every ordinary and
natural effect 10 some extraordinary and un.
natural causes, Is one OF the s.rik ing peculiar
tiles Of medical superstition. 1t is not the
least extraordinary feature in the history of
medical superstition, that it ehould SO fire.
quenty involve in its trammels persons who,
m every other occasion, would resent with
indignation any attempt to talk them out of
their reason, and sll more, persuade them out
OF their senses; and yet we have continual
proofs OF its extensive influence over powerful
md cultivated minds; in ancient times we
may addnce The wise Cicero, and the no less
philosophical Aurelius, who were actually per-
suaded to submit 10 the magnetsing operations
OF Mrs Prescott, while in our days we need
only call to our recollection the number Of
persons who denote themselves Tonsonians.
1t never was my design 10 onter into contest
where victory Itself must be a disgrace; but
when men, whose public situation commands
notice, adopt false theories and absurd conccits,
II is rot DEPRESSION, for any individual, cool.
ly and dispassionately, 10 attempt TO inyosii.
gate their merits. We have, within the last
few years, heard much Of the efficacy of the
Lobelia lnhaia, or Indian tobacco, of the Cav
cnne pepper, and many other medicines; and
from the oncomiums bestowed upon them, we
should suppose they were medicines OF recent
discovery, and the only substances which
have any medicinal properties.
IL is we'll known that the A borigincs used
the Indian tobacco for emeics; but the Rev.
DIR Cutler is the first who noticed this plant
among the medical profession, who made use
0i u ~ his own case for the relief of Asthma
ny the experiments ol DR. Bigclow, Lobeia is
iound 10 contain ca0ulchouc, cxtrac,ive and an
aerid pnnciPle. The effects of this plant are
powerful but exceeding various, depending