The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-17

1.-The Principles Of the Ohrono- Thermal System Of
Medicine, toin the FaIIacies Of me Faculty" BY
SAMUEL Dickson, M. D., &C., of London. With
AN Introduction and Notes, by William Turner,
M. d., late Health Commissioner of the city of
New York. Thirteenth edition New York: IL.
Long Brother, Al Ann street. Svo, PIP. 224.
We are almost afraid that our neglect of the
wholesome caution of the late Rev. and witty Sid
ney Smith to reviewers to read a book before
reviewing it, for fear of contracting some prejudice
partality by the perusal'-may have somewhat
impaired our quality of can impartial reoietosr'
The truth is, that had fully qualified ourselves
by diligent examination Of the title page, and
cursory glance at the authors preface to his 9th
London edition, to write ga first rate article upon
the new system he has dared to put forth in this
work, when, in evil hour, the humor seized US
TO read a little of the work itself Fatal thought
lessness! 1t has us all the time necessary to
read the iohole tcork; for could not lay it down
after getting fairly into it. But more than this-t
has cost some of our most cherished conservative
notions; in fact Of most blissful acquired
ignorance For ignorance does not always come
by nature, any more than reading and writing; it
is very often acquired by education; and them nat
urai ignorance is but a trife compared with the
invincibility Of acquired ignorance. Now, as edi-
tors of course obliged to know every thing it
80 happens that in our day we have read great
many medical works-studied great many sys-
TENS of nosology and pathology; have read more
than one Practice and "Materia Medica" since
Cullen's; have laughed at than one new
system with the learned professors of the old school,
and, in short abominate quackery of all sorts most
cordially. But this book Of DR.. SAMUEL Dickson
is not to be laughed at, laughed down! It is the
production of an original and independent mind; il
is the result Of powerful reasoning and philosophy
cal induction. The great principle of the system
of DIR. DIcKsoN-'sThe UNIrY of Disease''-whe-
ther universally true of diseased action in all the
tissues Of the system certainly true to a great
extent, as every mans experience in febrie disor
ders will easily convince him, without the aid of
the physician. Who ever had what we are accus-
toned to call fepr, that did not find it preceded by
chill? But we are anticipating, if not in danger
of taking sides, which we are far from venturing
to do. Where doctors, learned, able and expert
enced, differ, never should have the presump-
ton to decide.
But we will endeavor to explain well the mean
ing of the phrase " chrome thermal system as to
give outline of the remedial system it inculcates.
The phrase is compounded from two Greek words
chronos (time) and teme cheat temperature
The changes of temperature in the human system,
from its normal degree of heat in the healthy state
to chill in the cold diseased state, the foun
dation of the chrome thermal theory of the unity of
disease, and the basis of the chrome thermal treat
ment OF disease. The system can hardly be more
lucidly expressed in many words, than the author
himself has expressed it in very few follows:
"Well, gentlemen, the propermedicai treatment of
ALL DISEASES comes, at last, to attention to empera
ture," (of the human system l. e.) ''and to nothing
more. What is the proper practice in Intermittent
Fever To reverse the cold stage either by the sud
den shock Of the cold DASH by the administration
of warming cordals in the hot, to reduce the
amount of temperature by cold affusion and fresh
air; or for the same purpose, to exhibit, according
to circumstances, emetic, purgative, or both,
in combination. With quinine, &C., the interval
of comparative health may be prolonged to an in
definite period; and in that manner may health be-
established in all diseases In the early stages
of disease, to arrest the FEVER is in most instances
sufficient for the reduction of every kind of local
development"
The unity Of disease, however, promulgated by
DR.. Dickson, is not, as he himself insists first
put forth. Hippocrates first taught it in ancient,
and in modern times DR.. Rush of Philadelphia ad-
vocated it. But the first imputed this unity of dis
to imaginary humor; the second, to one
of excitement, but without explaining what it
was The pathology, therefore, of Hippocrates,
s,oeat that of Rush to bleed, leech and starue In
practice and in theory, am equally opposed to
both"
If our space would allow, should like to give
some further extracts from this ordinary, and
right or wrong, philosophical and reasoning lee
turer The manner in which the faculty in Eng
land have, according to his statements, received
and treated his system, is a disgrace TO the age,
and dishonor TO the profession. Ii required sort
of medical LUTHER, indeed, if these accounts are
not exaggerated, to reform the scandalous, almost
incredible system of abuses which had grown up.
DIR. Dickson has set about il with fearlessness
which, if he is right, will command success. He
brandshes a club of Hercules in his attacks, and
the manner in which his blows dealt, right and
left, is terrific If he is not the aggressor, his
statement would show he was not, we predict that
the number Of his assailants will rapidly diminish.
The work is worth reading to those oa of the pro-
fession, if it were only for the rich and glowing
vein of sarcastic invectve, and the classical and
apt repartee he bestows upon his adversaries.
To the medical man, throughout the country,
who has any capacity for philosophical investiga
ton into the causes of disease and the modus OPP
erandi of the remedies he prescribes, we have no
hesitation in saying that il is his duty to read this
work, and to weigh its facts and reasoning calmly
and impartially before he lets blood again in any
case whatever, if he can possibly avoid the prac-
tice II is time this system should be studied and
examined with view "to save the effusion of
blood"
To our fellow citizen, DR.. WILLIAM TURNER, of
New York, who has ventured to risk the dispeasure
of some Of the faculty in our country by introducing
this work TO their notice, we can do no less than
tender thanks for the instruction we have de-
rived from this public spirited effort-unthankfu,
in respects, as he intmates the task has been
This thirteenth edition proves that the seed has not
all fallen on stony ground, nor among tares. We
recommend the work TO the intelligent unprofes
sional reader, one better calculated to give him
valuable information in regard TO his general
health and the means of preserving IL, than any
we have for long time bad the pleasure of meeting