Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-03-20
For lie Enquirer.
THE ECLECTIC MEDICAL INSTITUTE.
No. li-AsD LAsI.
"FIak jpstiiia rnGt c1lltm.i


Genilemen:-In former communication, len
deayofed 10 prove that the Senate Ct Virginia had
no right 10 create Indirectly, monopoly in favor
ol he Allopath:c Practice, and Richmond Med-
cal College, by refusing 10 incorporate he Eclec-
tic M,,ical Institute; and, mrlhinks, Profession
n deiicacy alone should nave prevented the Fac.
uliy Of The Richmond MedicGi Col!cgr forming
4 coalition with certain Of our Senators 10 procure
The reconsideration and defeat oflhe bill Grant
ing, lor II. sake CT argument, that the Eclectic
Practice is wrong, they are no, responsitlslo man
individually, or 10 the community in general
10 put il down. They can caDiiily state their OBJ
Iecions 10 II, II any. and pursue The even 'enor OF
their course, in relation 10 their own practice
and The community will decide upon The truth
or ilsily of each. But they have usurped this
prerogalive OF The community, and by their lixit
decided il quackery, wiihon, an argument. Are
lhey judges Are any men proper judges, When
their own pecuniary Interests are al stakel APP
peal - every candid mind, ifthis opposition and
unwiirsness 10 grant Us oqual rights is mol
iacii acknowledgment OF The weakness OF mir
own ca use, as well as glaring betrayal oil selfish
disposition 10 invade liz rights Of others? That
we were ius,ly entitled to III, bin Of incorporation,
none will doubt, and will row show what tie
practice is, which will be taught in this insli;u-
lion, and in what / differs from Al!opaihy; aui
leave The ror popui 10 decide upon The merits Of
each.
All subject, which are comparatively new, par.
ticularly when no! properly brought before The
public mind for crilica! examination, are looked
upon with susrcione especially wnen they come
in conflict with preconceived opinions and long.
established usages Indeed, hy aninadycrtns IL
the past we find that many Of the best and most
benevolent OF human enterprises in all ages
and those too which promised to confer the most
enduring benefits ami alevating advantages up
on the human family, have nevertheless been
forced 10 encounter The most viruert and illibera
opposition. The greatest philanihrcrisls have
generally received The most persecution. These
whose discoveries have been OF the greatest nrac-
teal utility in after years, have been treated
with the utmost contnyncy and venroarh, on The
PRONUNCIATION &C their discoveries, Improvements
or doctrines This devotion 10 ola authority and
u.sees, has ever been The sternes opponent 70 the
progress Of reason, the advancement Of natural
truths and the prosecution OF all ne~ discoveries;
and in no science is this devotion moro apparent
Than in that OF Medicine. No sooner IL an i'm
portant discovery @. Improvement announced to
tho >~ord, than The profession, the leading
members OF il, denounce il as quackcry, With
out even critical examinailon-;! il conflict
in the least with their precunceived opinions. So
certain and common has this opposition 10 every
Improvement in medicine become, that il is every
where notorious The Eclectic Practice" labor
ed under every obstacle and disadvantage in The
commencement. It's humble founder was unac-
uuainled with the lore OF III" schools; and though
confident from an extensive experience, .ha. ii
was The hest practice. he was unable 10 present il
properly before the world. Ignorance Of The prin-
ciples OF anatomy, physiology and chemistry led
him into many errors. He was no ,acorist-he
was Natures physician. Though unacquained
with Inc lore of The schools Of medicine yet pos
sessing naturally mind OF The first ORDER rs well
as sound and discriminating Judgment, he was
prepared, bv continual experience and practice,
TO arrive al correct therapcrtical views. Had
Thomson's mind been i!lumned by thorough
literary scientific and medical education, he
wond have been one Of the brightest stars in the
galaxy of medicine. Under all The disadyania.
ecs Of early lie, he reaped for himself laurels,
and now his grave is clothed 10 immortality.
Wishing 10 reap the reward Of his Investigations
and practice, he took ont pqtent Tor his system.
This was an error and caused serious embar-
rassment to the promulgaion OF the practice
Quackery has always resorled TO the cloak Of
secresv. This "patcnt,nc" gave 10 his system
the air Of secresv 10 the world, and they immed-
aely Jumped TO The conclusion that II was fnact-
srB. II was also The cause OF another and The
most serious injury 10 The system. Men totally un-
fit for physicians, bought ".he right" and, being
totally ignorant, in many instances, and deficient,
in Thomson's Judgment and discrimination, they
were unable TO correctly prac i-e The system, and
prejudices were created in The minds OF the com
muni,r against it-indeed, so srong, tia; 20 one
would examine The sub lrcI or use ide practice, I'M
ill force! 10 do so as GcTnier resort, and Then, with
fear and trembling from the nnwarran,ah'e sn-
ries circulated against il by hose mes, interested
10 pnling il down. Bnt even hy THIS means II
gained many irends-numcrnus individuals 81
talent were thus forced Ia acknovlege lis syipe-
riorily in practice AMI many physicians 81 high
medical attachments became i. proseyeS. So
true is it that truth can never &c kept down
either by persecution or ignorance.-hui, over.
coming every difficulty, it rises higher and shines
more brightly each day."
Colleges were now erected in different SECTORS
Of the Union, and schools established, IN winch
The practice, together with all Inc collateral
branches Of medicine, are thoroughly impaired
This mas, in almost every place, removed the m
cubus Of ignorance and gu5ckery from iiic proles-
siun Obey being now as emiaeni Tor iheir nedl-
cal auainmenis as lher formerly were notorious
Tor their ignorance and impaired new i'm
petus 10 the Practice There arc now SIX mil
lions OF persons who use this method OF practice
alone; in many Of the States, here being de
cidcd majority in its favor. ami, IN few more
wears, there will be in all.
"But in VIVA, dogs The Eclectic practice ditler
from Allopa,hy 2" Upon The collateral branches
oil Medicine, Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry,
&C., there is no difference OF opinion between nsi
we teachhem equity with themselves IN our IN
situations, and place an equal importance upon
them. Our views are nearly, il mol entirely SINH
lar upon Ertiology; We receive The sal "Seuneo'
logical heirloom" with themselves, and award The
same need OF praise and honor to those who have
labured upon this intricate field of investigation
We believe with Rush and others, IN The unity
Of disease"
lst We oppose the Allopa'hic idea OF Poisons
and Medicine being relative terms we can never
believe wha, will kill we'll man Will cure SICK
one. -,
81. We are opposed to general bloodle'ting,
10 drastic purges, and 10 counter irritation py
bis,e!s. moxas &c.
Sd. We believe there are abundan; remedies
10 meet all the indications IN the treatment OF
disease which are innocuous TO Inc system IN
every respect, but which will accomplish every
thing that can reasonably be claimed for any re-
medy whatever. Generally speaking, our prac-
lice is Boanic vet We use VARIOUS sails that nave
mineral bases, such as soda, magnesla, potash,
&c: but in all our selections Of remedial agents,
we keep in view the elementary principles OF
The human system, and after removing morbific
Influences, or foreign, or irritating substances,
we amply such agents as bear the closest anaio-
ey 10 The system, and will assimilate with il.
Alb. We esteem ja,aine, especially The use otthe
ropor Jaih to be OF primary importance in the
removal of disease and The restoration Of the pa
lent, and, therefore, make OF il in every form
Of disease. To OF. attention to The surface,
or skin, may be attributed our superior suc-
cess in the treatment Of every form OF dis
ease. The chief end all physicians have in
view. is 10 induce the determining powers 10 The
surface and produce persPiration; SO soon as his
"a accomplished, tue patient becomes conYalescent.
The following are the beneficial resuhs a''ehuine
the use OF the indicated vapor pain: