The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-16
SINGLE copy s CENTS.
DIscusrINo ARrrcLEs in MEDICINE.

DISGUSTING ARTICLES IN MEDICINE.
Many persons, especially among the huns
bier classes, have an idea that articles OF
disgusting nature, such asdead mems bones,
are used in the composition OF medicines.
AT the present day this is certainly not the
case but it would appear from the older
writings that plans Of treatment Of very
repulsive and disagreeable nature were ac-
tually employed. Many Of these were
happily in the form Of outward applications,
or used as charms, but have no doubt given
origin to the ideas which prevail on this SUBJ
ject. Borlase, in his hook Of "Notable
things" observes, that ga halter wherewith
any one has been hanged, if tied about the
head, will cure the headache Moss growing
upon human skull, il dried and powdered,
and taken as snuff, is no less efhcacious.". !
think, by the by, we might ask, Is itany more
eficacious, for il certainly is not more plea
SAINT Turner-the DR.. Samuel Turner
who wrote on diseases Of the skin, and who
seemed rather fond Of strange stories--no-
tees a prevalent charm among old women
for the shingles the blood Of a black cat,
taken from cats tail, and smeared on the
part ahected't "The chips Of gallows
put round the neck, and worn round the
neck, is said to have also cured ague."t
Spiders, as may readily be supposed, were
ip great repute as remedies. Burton, the
writer Of the " Anatomy Of Melancholy
was at first dubious as to the efficiency Of
the spider as remedy, though he states
that he had seen it used by his mother,
/" whom he knew to have excellent skill in
chirurgery, sore eyes, and achesS tall at !
length says he, rambling amongst au-
thors, as often do, | found this very medi-
cine in Dioscorides, approved by Matthiolus,
and repeated by Aldrovandus; began then
to have better opinion Of t.oS For stop
ping hemorrhages all sorts Of disgusting
things were used That very amusing and
valuable writer, John Bell, says, "they tied
live toads behind the ears, oil under the arm
pit, or to the soles Of the feet, or held them
in the hand till they grew warm. Some
imagined" he continues, s that they opera
ted by causing fear and horror, but all be-
lieved their effects to be very singular and
Michael Mercatus says that this effect Of
toads is a truth, which any person willing TO
take the trouble may satisfy himself Of by. "a
very simple experiment for if you hang the
toad round a cocks neck for day or 50,
You may then cut of his head, and the neck
win not bleed single drop 'I These par
ticulars are sufficient to show that the old
modes of treatment were not the most plea
SAINT that can be conceived. No similar
practices are, however, now employed; and
the idea that all kinds Of disgusting things
enter into the composition Of medicines Is
altogether without foundation We have
only, indeed, to consider how much easier
and cheaper it is for those engaged in the
practice Of medicine TO supply themselves
with roots and salts than dead mems bones,
the blood Of black cats, and other horrible
conceits
OPENING THE CHEST.
The phrase "opening the chest" i very
common, and exercise is recommended with
this view. We have no objection in the
world to good exercise, il il be only moder-
ate and regular; but the opening Of the
chest is fortunately not accomplished by
back boards and dumb-bels. However,
the phrase, though vague, is, perhaps, suf-
fciently understood, and not particularly
coupled with any false practical views.
Whilst on this subject, | may be allowed to
state that the fashionable gymnastic exsr-
cises are, in my opinion, BY no means
the most desirable kind Of exercise. They
are mostly calculated to do harm, and are
used at time Of life when great mischief
may result from them OF this mischief
cannot particularize in this place, further
than to state that many important surgical
diseases arise from undue straining, and
continue to affect the whole Of after-life.
.petdgrew on Medical superstitions, p. "a.
I Pettigrew, op. cit, 10. s-t
TOP. eli. &c.
G Anafo,nv of Malancholx n 2d6 ~ ~ I.