The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-05-06

second page Of ten lines in Pearl type 81 each Insertion
Advsrtnsnt. published weekly weekly or mSsy
discount q . who sdvsrts By ysar
y ~ Ei5un 3 :r Hs5Sss u & gErH By
New Orleans: 1850
The Medical Faculty Of New Orleans have as |
serted that the advantages Of the profession in this
city, from the great variety of diseases, and Hosp
tai practice, are greater than those of any other
school, that of Paris not excepted If the assertion
is true, it is strange that there is little evidence
existing of it, through the ample means and facili
ties with which they supplied. The works |
which we present to the notice Of readers |
have led US to these remarks.
The pamphlet now before us presents, ike all
others of the writings Of DR.. Dowler, an unusual
degree Of research and talent, also very gla-
ring faults, both of principle and intellectual con-
sistency besides, the sefconceit ESQ conspicuous
in his ridcule Of the French and, at the time,
illustrating his own view of eathanasid by the
same stories) has made his faults the more open.
But we will pass on to the expermentalpart Of the
essay.
As to his mode of testing Death, he attests very
strongly side of the question:. g., the ther
mometrical state Of the body after death-brt he
has not stated that the thermometrica state Of the
body 5eore death has been at all ascertaned in the
same way and unless we have this point settled
by actual experiment as well the other, how can
we know that the post nsOrtem results differ, and
therefore are to be depended on? have not seen
| in any book the assertion whchhe prenounces " an
axiom, viz: +" that man, in his living state, main
tains uniform temperature, independent OF the
surrounding meda"-and | think it will trouble
the head of the Doctor to invent species Of every
day wearing thermometer, by which he can at all
induce live people to examine this matter, and
prove the truth Of his axiom; yet this very axiom
is his starting-poi Again, striking fault in the
work before us, the paucity Of cases drawn from
common practice; there are afew-and when they
do show themselves, they are Immediately smoth-
cred by pile of foreign and extraneous matter, nat
lauthenticated and consequently the more unsatis-
| factory The learned Doctor gives overwhelming
testimony in regard to what is only post 1ortsm
| by his own experiments, and depends upon re-
searches not his own, for all else. 1t is strange
that he should have time to mako and print all
these researches and not time to collect and arrange
them. The hurry Of the performance is obvious,
while the reason Of it does not appear. degree
Of complacency, indeed, is observable here, which
partakes rather strongly of mental plethora, not
Z at all becoming powerful mind as that which
the Doctor possesses.
Consistency Of Judgement equal power ovel
all questions of equal consequence, should charac
terize the who processes to guide into adde
truth he should not exhibit himself as voracious
; fond of kind of experimental research, an
after devourng it Gd a0sSeans, lean like surfeite
;. body on the irresponsible and random efforts q
y others for the remainder he should continue t
l kn[
attention impartialy to all the subjects requirn.
elucidation which lie connected with each other.
conscience, not a taste, should direct mans labo
rious work. Csti bono should limit the natura
impertinence of human curiosity, and if there b
no answer, one should stop and return to another
branch in which reply is to be heard, and tha
j., decidedly.
Dr. Dowler is blameworthy, chiefly because beinI
/. possessed of strong mind, resolute and the mos
indomitabe industry, and moral courage for whicl
honor him--he reverses the true order of the i'm
u portance in treating the subject Of Death and ye
confessing in plain words g that every candid ply
sican must acknowledge the therapeutic benefits
derived from the Christian philosophy in clinica
practice" The soul is highest, the mind next AM
t. the body last 10 dignity of the human trinity, an
Death affects them all three yet he treats of tn
work, it is true, is on merely physical subject
d. vet an extensive, and well read, and experience
research into the influences of close religion upo
: Death, in all its stages, would have afforded IA
greater light upon its phenomena, and rendered hi
!. book far more popularIy useful; it would, howeve
+. have been less popular with his own profession
and, perhaps, rank lower before the French Acad
\ emy which he quotes and ridieules.
1 I 1o fh;nk hat of
or gifted persons afford quite safe object Of stud
~ or emulation for persons Of less qualified mind
% Anecdotes of commoner sort and with
Of probable imitability are wanting. Death is Il
result of sin and the records of crme and passio
es' and conscience, will be found more significant
I'M bearing upon its physical phenomena than all Il
sy researches into natural areana Of any turkey bu
In card of any anatomlst.
raj The Doctor omits a sign Of coming death of
ar wholly speculative character, which ] belle
never fails; it is rarely mentioned in books, but
hinted at in the burial service of the EpiscoT
I, Church +" Suffer not at our last hour, for al
pains of DEATH to fall from thee" So far as kno
no dying person fails to stare in horror inexpre
ma sbe, at some invisible object, horror perfect
intelligent and perfectly indisputable; it is also
ua frequent, if not as constant precursor OF deaf
that bliss unspeakabe likewise suffuses the cou
~ tenance with an expression of angelic peace. I
Cd behodng either or both Of these, never look
= recovery; and though my personal experience
small, have made very extended inquiries uP'
this point No joy, no horror, at any other POI
of life, so paints the human conntenance with
preston never.to.be.f forgotten 1t Is the DIRE
!, agency of unseen spirits; the soul beginning TO s.
in what lies bevond already. Iwould ask the DoctC
En- then. whether he thinks it right confessing as
and does the importance and the influence of regio
he to devote his strength only to physical experiment
we'd Whether closer study Of the Scriptures, and
Rs less application TO anatomy, would not much ass
and in clearing and systemstizing his Judgement al
ave enable him TO view the natural body in just lgl
I'M, when he has proved by individual researches ho
lsn il lies the helpless victim of influences often Al
etc. mostly immaterali Sorrow, anxiety, passion, U
1ss clean Spirits these are the harbinge of disease a
. dissolution; nor will any man dread the period
,S Cw his natural repose, who has been taught how
cleanse away evil from his conscience in the bio
of Christ; or relish the peace Of " the rest Il
remnineth for the people Of God" Such know
b "agony," they I" fall asleep" only; and the Ki
" of Terrors becomes the kindly nurse Of the iii
0v soul, soothing il AFTER iis trials and rihulatonI
sie, "after lfe's ftfnl fever he sleeps nell"
4 Science is very admirable as servant in
bv o.n niace. hnt We 10 the servanf and 10 those