The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1844-12-14

|
| gin medicine) and Quackery are SC lib
orally encouraged. This is a deplorablr
fact, and until by investigation, by study
by q careful examination Of mans siruc-
iure, his organization, the operation OF his
various animal functions,,he causes which
influence or change those functions, the
character aud operation Of different REM
edies, so as to see clearly what the ply
stefan has in view when he prescribcs
them, and to understand upon what the
curative means are based, until. in fact by
acquiring perfect knowledge OF the prin-
ciples upon which the science of medi-
cine is founded, they will ever remain the
victims Of empiricism.
1t! is not necessary tina, all men should
become physicians in order 10 prevent
themselves from jcopardizing their lives;
but i. is indispensable that they should be
able 10 discriminate between truth and
error, and by liberal system Of education
to know that which is true from that
which is false. Truth is immutable, and
unless system (be j. what i, may is
founded and supported upon the firm
basis Of truth, it is visionary and base
Decentralization scatters it TO the four
winds Of Heaven. and the to.tering fabric
can only t land amids, ignorance and blind
credulity.
shall not attempt 10 expose the vari
Gus frauds prac'iced upon the unthinking
and uniformed, but i. is due to the cause
of humanity that some of them should be
| tested by the touchstone Of truth and held
up TO the scorn and disgust they 50 emf
nenly merit.
Among the many dclusons | give
Thomsonian;sm the precedence for fraud,
gross ignorance and downright knavery;
and care not whether ihe Quack calls
hmselfa member of the Botanic Medical
Society instituted by Samuel Thompson
hms elf--or member Of anv other Of the
Botanica! Medical Humbugs of his follow
ers-for the only merits that any Of them
can possibly claim lie tina, o! oris inality
and This is due TO the verilaLle Thompson
himself--his followers are mere drvel-
ling p!ugiaris,s who have stolen his
thunder to avoid the pay for his patent
The impos,ure is the same and they are
all equally culpable.
do no, at all doub, bu, tina! many o.
those who have embraced this {or any,
botanic system have done so from con-
vclion OF the truth Of its princples-for' 4
am unwilling to believe that all men are
sunk so low in moral dspravi.y. Yet the
merit Of being hsnesl in their opinion
will no, excuse them for being ignoran
of the truth, or relieve them from all NOR
al responsibility. There are some, how
ever, who are SO totally de7raved tha
(fwe take their own testimony in evil
denee) they are SHINING agains. ligh, ant
knowledge-lhey tell US that they have
given the science Of medicine full ant
thorough investigation, that some of then
are graduates Of respectable medica
schools, and that with full know ledge o
both systems they have abandoned medI-
cal and embraced Thomsoniani"m from 6
conviction Of it's superiority. To sucf
mon ! can only say, that their representa-
lions are most positively untrue, tina. they
have no, even the cloak of ignorance tc
hide their rascality and tina. their profess,
ions are basely dishonest, Il matters no
what they may say induced them to be-
come converts to this system, ! repea
mos. positively and without the (eal
contradiction from any unprejudiced in
4 telligcnt man, that if these men are mer
1 good understanding, if lhey are acquain.
ted with Anatomy and Physiology, tina
they profess wha. they do not, v la. they
cGHaot believe, simply because they knou
il to be untrue. lnteres, and other motive,
lead men 10 do many .hings, W .rh hon
or ind Integrity of character would other
wise forbid, and can only reilerale .ha
il physicians are found among Them, they
are there from sono such motive and art
i promulga.ing doctrines which they know
to be incorrect. In the language of t
physician who has given on opinion npof
1 this matter will say tina. "whaIeSel
!, physicians may think Of the REGULAR prac'
lice, they kaoao vesy well that the Botanic