Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-08-24
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From The Lectures Of Samuel Robinson, NJ ID

II The fruits ofThomson'S practice have been
so abundant, on the most forbddin9 soil, aud
so well authenticated, that we are called
upon to admit its truth and respect its testi-
mony; and it requires the aid of strong pre-
iudioc to resist liS claims on public confidence
and attention. Great men are not always
wise /; the most SIMPLE means arc often over
looked, for the most labored and complicated
and it would be well to give the agency OF
God place in the universe, as well n the
agency of man. The kline pock, mere ac-
cidental discovery, extremely simple, and yet
powerful To expcl disease, on which all the
physicians of the world had spent their skill
III vain, for twelve centuries while it was
carrying off annually, one in every twelve OF
the population Of the globe, and leaving its
rude Impress upon nearly one half oi the sur
vivors 1t will be asy for Divine Providence
to discover specific to men, for consumption,
for fever, for plague, for every pain, as for
the small pox for more loaihsome and ter
rible disease could not be found among all
tho ma!adies Of man.
4 There are herbs, says DR.. Ray, to cure all
diseases, though not known every where
The Celtic tribes know the most of them.-
They can take the pain out OF a burning at
once, and heal it soon, though burned to the
hone which battles all the faculty in large
and learned cities. The Celtic doctors are
applied 10 by such as use the established
practice. when given up by it.
Theory Of jtrer, according 10 The modern sys.
., tens Of medicine.
DR. CULLEN. Fsper, PyreriG, or Febrile
diseases designate their approach by gen
eral debility and languor ever the body cold
shivering. increase ofheat frequency Of pulse,
dilninuton of strength in the animal tunc-
tions. These are the distinguishing charac-
trris,ics. Phenomena languor, debility
suggishness in motion, face pale and shrunk
Stages three cold, hot and sweating.
The hot stage of fever is so constantly pre-.
ccded by cold stage. that we presume the
latter il the cause or all that follows in the
paroxysm of the disease. TO discover tn,
canse of the cold stage Of fever, we may OBJ
serve, that it is preceded by strong marks o
general debility prevailing in the SYSTEM
The weakness Of the rulso, palenesS of the
face shrinking Of the whole body, plainly in
dlcaie that the action ofthe heart and arteries
are extremely weakened. There is also n
weakness Of the energy of the brain.
Debility, is the prOxinate cause of fever
The remote causes are, contagion, putrid
efiluvia from sick persons, decayed vegetable
or animal substances, marsh niasmata, state
Of the atmosphere, cold. fear, grief, strong
passions. or whatever eXhausts the system
and produces debility. There is, therefore,
evidently. three states, which take place in
fever state of debility, state of cold, state OF
heat and these follow in series Of cause
and effect.
The principle of action, Ivy which the state
Of debility produces the cold state, has no
been explained; but is referred to the gen
eral law ofthe animal economy, or philosophy
which is, that when noxious powers thrcatel
to hurt or destroy the system, it immcdiatel
assumes n repeling attitude to resist tn
hostile powers. This is called the ms medi
eairir nature, in the schools of physic.
The increased action Of the heart ant
arteries, which takes place in the hot stage
says Dr. Cullen, has long been considered a.
sn effort of the ris medicdtrir nature to repe
the disease, by physicians and the colo
stage, also, as an effort of the same power
In this seda!ive state, nature is conc entratino Q
her powers, to that formidable resistance
/ against the enemy, which she displays in the
strong paroxysm of fever for it has been OBJ
3 served, that the paroxysm il always in pro
portion TO the force of the chill.
I. This is precisely Thomson's principle; thai
fever is friend, and not an enemy, but rise.
TO subdue the enemy; and should, therefore
be aided in it's efforts, instead of being broke
and destroyed, which in fact, is to destro
life to crush the very efforts Of that pis med
icoi,ir nature, which God, in mercy, ha
!, placed in the human form, to defend mn
!. from the innumerabe evils which assail hiI
in life. Whether, therefore, we agree wit
: ancient or modern theories. with the ancient
who supposed fever, this unusual motion
: the blood, to arise from the 10 nrche. to exp,
morbid matter from the system, or the in
petus (aciens, the anima n,edica. the ris me,
icatrir nnt,rn, or vis insita, OF their succc
, sors all these moving powers, healing pow
ers, spirit Of life, principle of life, law Of lif
> vital energy, amount precisely to the san
thing the vital action resisting the encroac
ments Of disease. Life is opposed to deaf
!. necessarily and eternally. 1t is peccssi
r. of nature. Light aud darkness could "a so'
. unite, NJ life and death Whenever there
!, life, therefore, there will be resistance
N whatever has a tendency to produce DEATH
I, II is nm essential law Of life; where it is n
ir found, life does not exist.
go The dispute of physicians respecting q
IN proxlinatc cause Of fever, ought TO b. '
m duced to single point, viz. in what pnrt
>, the material system has the Deity lody,
this vital principle, or law of life, which ca
scs the fcvcred action to rep.l diseases?
For wherever life emineniy resides, d
w action of resistance will first bcoip. q