Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-07-07
For the Vermont Phpnix.
THOMSONIANISM-( Concluded. }

- - N'% NSOA't<hAtifoANh OOUttuUtU.J
In every discussion it is important to IN.
derstand the question. And no controversy
should be maintained before the public, in
which the people have no interest. Ii ind-
viduals must contend let them do it by their
own firesides. and not cucumber papers de.
signed for the improvement of the communi-
~. No questions that regard private char.
acter or personal feeling should find place
in respectable public journals But subjects
that so deeply effect the general welfare as
the practice OF medicine and surgery, if con-
Quoted on fair, honorable principles, are, at
least In the opinion of one subscriber neither
undressing nor useless But what is the
question now under discussion? Ii is not
whether l or you, Mr. Editor, be in state
OF mental arrangement" or have ian in.
Illumination on the lace" or-toes---whether we
are doing much or little in our respective
callings-nor whether we kill or cure one
half" or three quarters Of our customers
nor whether we transacto our business in pub.
lie or close our doors TO keep out rogues and
Intermediates in other mems matters. All
these things may be important between ndi.
viduals concerned, but they certainly cannot
oe interesting or useful to your readers ir
general
The controversy, as understand it, is
this Mr. jeremiah Arnold. of Londonder-
ry, Thomsonian practitioner of medicine,
one whose ride extends thirty miles in ev-
cry direction, one who has driven from
the field "a Coburn, a Barton, ct cetera,"
and numerous others within the circle are
just Hanging to the profession like a cat
lrSIb o,,, I'll ~ md ,..hr. he l.k.
progress Of canker-rash and measles to
charm, who can cure twice running-and
who declares himself mighty to save even
to the uttermost all that come unto him.
This same Mr. Arnold proposes 10 prove, as
| understand it, that his Lobelia, Red-pepper
and Steam engine is,-lst, innocent" I'd,
"congenia TO nature; Sd. "efficacious TO
wonder" And farther,-Thatthe scientific,
pathological practice Of medicine is contrary
10 nature, poisonous in its operation, and
destructive to the human family. eren be-
yond the famine, pestiienee and s,cord" To
these assertions and charges. Mr. Editor, |
have entered the plea Of" non assumpsit," and
put the profession ION the country for trial"
Now the burden Of proof rests on the
plaintiff; and in making out the case, have
but one or two small hvors to ask One is,
that he would not mistake assertion for evi.
dence, nor substitute personal abuse for ar
gumenf; that when he quotes authorities, he
would gvie us the references. And further,
when he claims such men as Hippocrates.
Galen, &c. as Thomsonians. let him admit
the fact that they placed blood-lei,ing in
most cases, foremost on the list of remedies;
and let him further shew us, tina, they used
the red-pepper and obelia at all in their prac-
lice and il he succeeds in this point let bin
have the frankness TO admit that Thomson is
not original in his system-lhat he is simply
a copyisi, and therefore undeserring a pa
tent
| would suggest one other thought for the
genteman's encouragement and improve
nen, Ii is, that he should as far as practi
cable twist his ideas into rerse, as he seems 10
succeed best in that kind Of composition
The specimen afforded in his late communi-
cation, Of his favor with the MUSES., exats
exceedingly, not only his professional, but
his literary fame and places him high on
an eminence with certain distinguished
anonymous poet-who like himself posses
sed the astonishing faculty of turning to
rhyme and metre every common occurrence
give the following as a sample.
"Last nigh, the wind blew down our well sweep,
This morning aud dad pu, it up again-Sheep."
ANXIOUS VERlTATIS.