The Columbian fountain., 1846-10-10
MEssRs. EDITORS I:

whatever may afford them pleasure or Improvement
MEssRs. EDITORS: .llGsa3 ,amal IN Wsati 3e
Your correspondent, J. g., deals out Alec
pathic doses with his pen, il in no other way.
Having few moments leisure, we will com
ment cursorily upon the general character OF
his last article. j. @. commences with an ex-
tract from the writings Sir Humphrey Davy,
where he speaks of philosophy being retarded
by the confidence of teachers in delivering dog
mas as truth, which il would be presumptu-
GUS to question, etc. We object to such
spirit as strenuously as any one; II is wrong
in its nature and in its effects. 1t belongs to
the dark ages, where, with comparatively lew
exceptions, it has its bounds. But, slrs, we
must look at the nineteenth century 10 lind an
exemption from all such feeling and see and
be delighted with the liberal spirit manifested
in regard 10 philosophy and science. Not to
go back any farther, let us look at animal
magnetism. Who has ever dreamed OF oppo-
sing its progress! On the contrary, il has gone
on its way with open and expanded wings
persons, when an individual application has
its claims. How has il been with the practice
of Thompson, termed in vulgar parlance, the
I" hot crop practice 2" Has il not freely gone
on its way, being WARMLY and cordially re-
ceived by many, and passvely appreciated by
all2 And how has it been with the Dieietic
| cure all system Of the immortal Graham? Has
| il not met with an equally cheering salutation,
except perhaps in few instances where indi-
viduals have unfortunately been, while coun
tenancing it, taken with sudden weakness,
not attributable, however, in the least respect
TO bran-bread. And then there is the sublime
Chrono-thermal system Of practice-s word
uttered, or does dog wag his head against
such improved light? Indeed, we live in
glorious, liberal, gentlemanly age: every tub
| may stand on its bottom as long as it can, and
If it lips over it is certainly its own fault. We
hope we have duly regarded this objection and
censure of Sir Humphrey, and would say, en-
pGssaAt, that we really regret this amiable phi
losopher' having lived in such Gothic age.
]. G.. next speaks Of the failure Of the An
cients to elevate physlc to the dignity Of sci
ence, and that the Moderns have been more
successful in reducing il 10 the level Of trade.
| In reply to this, we would say that if medicine
was not elevated TO the dignity Of science,
then there were no distinctive arrangement OF
principles regarded in that view Tor the great
est writers Of ancient times henored medicine
with their favorable, or unfavorable structures,
and some Of these were its disciples and zeal
Gus patrons. We think it is sufficient, in this
place, TO quote the estimation in which Inspi-
ration regarded medicine, when the prophet
asked, in an exigency, =" Is there no balm in
Giliad /? Is there no physician there % " But
the modems have reduced it TO a trade" We
do not know precisely in what sense J. G.
wishes us to understand the word trade, in the
relation he uses il. If he means TO affix 10 it
merely mercantile Specification, then we say
that the assertion is, point-bank, at variance
with fact and general usage. What profes-
sion receives greater respect and concessions
than that of medicine, as applicable TO the Al
lopathic system ? What application OF prin-
ciples is more elevated and nicely discrimnal
ting and what profession or pursuit has
identified with il such important results ls
there any barter, or shutting, or diamond cut
diamond things connected with trade, found
in the profession Of medicine? J. G. still goes
on quoting structures from Allopathic authors,
discreditable 10 their assumed profession and
while we admit that the majority Of those he
names, as opposers 10 some things connected
with our practice, were Of a high reputation
as practitioners and writers ;yet we deny that
they were recreant 10 the great fundamental
principles Of their profession They stood, to
their latest day, upon the Allopathic founda-
ton, and were guilty Of no greater sin than
indulging in an occasional fit Of spleen. And
the profession or science cannot be named that
has no, had among its leading advocates, those
who have been guilty Of the same course Of
action. j. G.. next. speaks Of the increase Of
his system. And what is proved BY the estab-
| lishment Of a, dozen or less medical schools
over Europe and America? and the publish
ing Of a few Journals by the HomGopathists !?
Did not the Thompsonian system attain 10
quite as great degree Of success, before il un-
happily encountered light which revealed
its tissue OF preposterous absurdities, and led
the public to discard il as q humbug z And
aimed, moi only at the cure Of all physical in