Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-04-26

life, and hoped to accomplish the desi-
red end by chemical uansmuiatlons, or
vainly attempting to read the fate oil
his patients in the aspect Of the hea-
vens. This latter delusion arose to
such height, that at the birth ofevery
individual, certain star was supposed
to preside; and whose radiance or DIM
ness was considered as sure indca-
ton of success or misfortune. The
most prolific epoch in extravagant spe-
culations Of this character, was during
that mental twilight, which peryaded
the whole world, in the middle ages,
when superstition and credulity exer-
cised an almost unlimited sway. Then
arose those extraordinary decisions OF
fancy, and were developed those fear
full dreams OF witchcraft and the Phllo.
sopher's Stone, and universal medi-
cine, which so long m sled the minds
even of some of the learned. Some of
them are far from being forgotten, and
are daily re-appearing under forms
better adapted TO the spirit ofthe times.
For, although we loudly boast of our
discoveries in science, and yalnly talk
of the march of intellect and the dltfu-
sion of knowledge, we are forced to
confess, so far are we from being freed
from the influence of imposture, that it
still prevades every division and rank
oflile. \ belief IN those arts is now
a. nj AZ
ness and imbecility but notwithstand-
ing the increase of knowledge that dis
pels these errors, we are still the VIC
inns of other quackeries, full as mis-.
chievous and degrading to our reason.
Scarcely has one delusion been de-
stroyed, when others spring up like
the heads Of tabled Hydra. Although
the idea of the philosophers stone is
now scoffed at, how many place the
firmest reliance on some universal me.
dicine and panacea after panacea is
produced and indiscriminately used, as
in the days of Paracelsus, with the
same results-that Of filling the pro-
jector's pockets. Thus is it now, as
in the days of Paracelsus. Scarcely
has one ignorant, unprinci pied, implous
catchpenny inventor or protector Of
some universal panacea, gone to the
shades of oblivion, before another RI.
SEES up, more gorgeous and illusory
than he: scarcely newspaper can be
seen, but has several columns filled
with advertisements of various produce
tons, such as-Panacea warranted to
cure all diseases to which the human
system is subject-Balsam of Health
Pulmonary Observation-Disclosures
Tincture, &C., &C., all of which are
accompanied by certificates of some
poor, miserable, ignorant, isolated and
deluded beings, who are incredulous
enough to consent to attach their names
to such as may suit the 'imposter's de-
signs. If instead Of the testimony ad.
duced to prove the number of cures
performed, they would give the mum.
Der of failures, say nothing of the hun
dreds who have fallen victims to these
pernicious nostrums-l doub: not, il
would present fearful odds. Say they
it may appear an anomalous circum.
stance. that one single medicine should
possess such universal attributes. Tru-
iy, it is an anomalous circumstance
it is an insult to common sense. Such
logic would make man mere ma
chine, that required nothing but oil to
keep il in order, while in operation.-
And yet these same audacious brava-
does have the impertinence to recon-.
mend them to the Medical Faculty,
when the Faculty are better acquaint-
ed with their intrinsic qualities, than
the empires themselves, and can judi
cously use them if circumstances re-
quire, without their poor pitiful option.
| shall now dismiss this species of i'm
position, and briefly notice a few 9th.
ers equally formidable. The next is
the Linmcnt system. 1t also promis-
IS to cure all diseases Of all grades and
orders, by external application. M.
merous certificates also accompany
this vehicle Of imposition. will give
an extract from certificate purport-
ing to cmanate from DIR. A. ID. He
says: In chronic case, pulse hardly
perceptlble and extremely slow, have
by the application Of your liniment in.
creased its action 100 beats in less
than an hour and in another case,
when the pulse ran 100 beats in a mi
mute, | have, by the same process, re-
duced it so beats, in six hours. Such
Inconsistencies are too ridiculous to de.
serve further notice. The next and
last shall notice, is the Sthenic and
Asthenic, revived by Thompson, that
heat is life, and cold is death, See
Thompson's Farrier, which has for
its moduS operandi, the Russian vapor
bath, class of stimulating medicine,
and an emetic known by the name of
Indian Tobacco, (Lo6eta inaata,) all
Of which are useful remedies in the
hands IF n ct iIf,l nhycio;an All ,Lo.