The Columbian fountain., 1846-09-28
HOMEOPATHY.

touching our profound ability IN logic, we will
trouble you again with few remarks respect
ing the Homeopathic system of practice. And
in the first place we would refer TO the aigu-
ment Of your correspondent employed to do
away with the force Of our assumption in vir-
tue of the antiquity and duration of the Aloe
pathic system. and of its continuous and pre-
eminent countenance and support up 10 the
present hour. He has adopted, literally, the
character of attack we felt confident he would,
when we selected our ground Of discussion.
And now, Sirs, let us analyse its texture and
decide upon its force. He speaks OF The old
system Of Astronomy, and OF its having been
made 10 recede before the light diffused by
Newton and OF the ancient systems Of Phi
osophy losing their hold upon public faith by
the genius and perception of Bacon: and of
Steam, Electricity, etc. ETC. And ii is obvious
ly predicated, by ]. G., that because these de-
monstrated utltarian principles have received
the sanction Of all intelligent minds, SO should
Homeopathy al least such is the inference
we think he intended should be drawn. Now
we are inclined to look upon this claim as ra-
ther presumptuous, not 10 use harsher ep-
thet. We would ask if Homeopathy
il burst from the limits of its conceived great
ness-scattered the darkness and gross errors
the Hom9opathists assert involve and encom-
pass Alleopalhy2 Was it, like the Newton
ian system Of Astronomy, universally hailed,
at its advent, as new demonstrated truth ? Or
like the new, inductive philosophy, al once
regarded as being based upon the conservative
principle of utlity2 Or like the application
OF steam and electricity, as promotive OF public
benefit, receiving every thinking, discrimina-
ting mind in civilized life, as its pairons2 III
we are correct in our judgement we must, for
one, say no, to each one of these claims in sup
port Of Homeopathy. 1t has not since its pro-
pagation shaken the weakest pillar in the Alleo-
pathic structure. The most reliable history of
its devious progress exhibits attacks without
scarcely durable impression, and, 50 far as
evidence can be adduced in its favor, there is
not spot in Europe, where it originated, that
can boast of its increase and permanency. In
Germany, its birth place, it has, according to
the authority Of most respectable travellers
through that country, become an "obsolete
idea" 1t has run over Europe. leaving few
impresses marking its course, and il is now
running over this continent with about the
. same results So far then from regarding Ho-
m9opathy as new and improved science,
resting upon the foundation Of utility, all we
would say is, that the public has been rather
tardy in acknowledging the claim; and from
present indications is disposed TO allow it TO re-
pose while, under advlsement
Now, Srs, we will examine the crowning
argument Of ]. G.. which consists Of quota
tions from the writings Of various members OF
the Alleopathic profession, condemnatoIy OF
the nature of their materia medica and mode
Of practice. Let us remark, in this relation,
that there being apostates and cavillers from
and in a science, does not prove it false or even
dofa for II tha hich
decide the validity of general rule. Will any
sane and candid person assert, that because.
there have been, in every age since its promul-
cation, apostates from the Christian religion,
therefore it is false faith Or, because coun-
terfeit and spurious money is found in circula-
ton, therefore the whole circulating medium
is base and valueless? No, this is neither JUS
tice nor philosophy, and the world SO regards
it. Suppose the Alleopalhic Materia medica
is defective and dangerous, and should be con-
demned and reprobaled, what, we would ask,
are the HomGopathists to do ? they depending
upon articles, all of which are contained in that
identical collection; for the matera medica Of
the Alleopathists contains every remedy for dis
ease, that has ever yet been discovered or
known. Your correspondent, J. g.. has cited
the assertion Of DR.. Forbes, an Alleopathist,
and one Of the professional attendants at the
i Court of ST. James, that more are cured by ma
ture than by any system of medical treatment
and we suppose j. G. would wish, by this
citation, to have the inference deduced that his
system of practice should stand next in the
category of cures, as the doses are or should
be intinitisimal We close this article by a
single remark, referable TO our own medium,
and that is this either Alleopathc doses are
administered in every case of severe bilious
disease, or in a large majority of cases the pa
tient dies. The pathology of the disease jusi-
fes us in saying this: and we would repeat
what we stated, as our conviction, in our last
communicaion-tha those persons are TO be
pitied, who are attacked by violent and danger
Gus disease, and permit themselves to be dosed
with minute or nugatory substances. .S
te4 a X. Y.@J
Being recently in Philadelphia, and meeting one
Of the Oldest and respectable physicians, we in
quired how Homeopathy was succeeding in his city
He remarked, in reply, that six eight years ago.
he felt somewhat alarmed at the inroads made by the
Homeopathic System in that city, and that he count
ed, at one time, thrty-four families which had pre-
viously employed him, but had gone to the new
doctrine. But, said he, every OF these families
have since come back to the Alopathic system, em-
ployng myself again, the last renouncing homoeo
pathy about month previously As j. G.. is from
that locality and probably is acquainted with the re-
putation Of the gentleman refer to, will, IL he
requires, confidently give him his name
--~~~~~~-~~~-~-~--~~~~~~~~~-Ts .t# .Nt n