Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-03-13
: EXCELSIOR, March 9th, 1855.

ject of Medical Science, particularly of the reform
practice, permit me through tho medium of your
columns, to express some of my sentiments upon
this all important subject. lam astonished when
look back and see what n change has been
wrought within the last half century. Forty
years ago the clergyman and the .family doctor
were looked up to by both small and great as
Gods vicc-g erants on Garth, being oracles of
wisdom, having delegated to them the power OF
healing, one for tho SOUL the other for the body
their word was law. Many n little urchin, yes,
and older ones too, hayo been awed to almost
breathcss silence by the appearance of the min
lister, or the physician with his saddie-bags. But
now how changed. The clergyman of 1855 is not
respected for tho dignity of his oihce--his sacre
dotal airs, the blackness of his coat, but for
his intellectual requirements, moral worth, and
the manner in which he honors his profession
Would that there had been as much general pro-
gross in Medical Science at large as in ecclesias-
teal reform. But we will give all due credit for
what has been done, and await further develop
ments. First, let me speak of some of the bar
r;ers in the path of medical reform. There are
hundreds of those good family physicians who
often find themselves baifled in the treatment of
diseases at the present day, and wonder why the
old system of practice that was once so success
full does not operate as well as formerly. They
many times loose confidence either in themselves
or their practice, when they SEQ Dysentrey, Ty-
phoid, or Scarlet Fevers, sweeping off their pa
tients by scores, is it strange that they feel
thus, for their whole system of practice, with
few exceptions, is a bundle of traditions based
in error, not having proper appreciation of the
true nature and cause of disease, or the proper
mode of cure thclattcr fact being proved by their
daily experience in the treatment of many acute
and Chronic diseases, many Of which prove fatal,
that would readily yield to proper course of re-
formatory treatment. Perhaps my readers will
inquire what do you call reformatory treatment I?
| answer, the ECLECTIC, in its broadest sense.
first would class in the scale of merit, Hydropa.
thy, secondly Botanic, hrdly,-Homnpathy
and last of all, Allopathy. claim to be govern
cd by reason and truth in these gradatons of
merit; my observations and experience lead me
to the conclusion that no one system of practice
is specific in all cases of disease as some sup
pose-and that it indicates bgotry and supersi-
ton to advocate system that has long since been
! superseded by one far better. l speak from ex-
periencc, when speak of the merits of water in
the cure Of diseases, both acute and chronic.
have successfully treated hundreds of patients
that had been abandoned by Allopaths rs hope
less cases. This fact has led me to appreciate
its merits and to give tho right hand Of fellow
ship to system that has saved so many from a
premature grave. Facts are stubborn things
Our brother Allopaths have mustered their legions
and because their bread and butter was in dan
ger, have with their lanccts, pills and plasters,
charged upon this system with all their fury, but
like all other truth, it has sustained the shock
without injury, and is yet destined to pass to the
| zenith of It's glory. One cause of the great d.
lena Of our Allopathc brothers is the stercotypcd
monotony Of their practice, which, contrasted
with the great change in the prevailing diseases
of the present day, compared with the past age as
well rs the change in the constitutions and habits
Of the people. Who ever heard of the Erysipelas
being dangerous disease forty years ago?-
Whereas now it is one of our most common as
we'll as fatal diseases.
Time would fail me to cnumerate the long cat
alogue of chronic patients which every season
come hobbling or crawling into our water cures,
many Of whom diseased by the improper ad-
ministrat;on of poisonous drugs and medicincs.-
do not believe in driving acute, or local
disease by means of medicine back into the sys-
tenn Of the patient time after time, as is often
done in the regular ,oay, then trying to make the
patient believe he is cured, when to his utter dis
may in a few years, if not sooner, he finds him
al Co. -, IL r. u.
so by mismanagcment and abuse. Now do not
think me severe or personal, for am only sta
ting facts which can be proved by hundreds of
hiring witnesses. was educated regular Ply
stefan in the strctest Allopathic school, and for
long time witnessed the administration of this
practice in our large Hospitals, and contrary to
my wishes at that time, was constrained to ac-
knowledge its utter inability to meet the wants
of the suffering invalid. In the mean time had
seen many poor sufferer step into the pool and
return healed. AS my mind was ever open to
conviction and desiring to avail myelf of the sa-
fest and sures mode of healing disease, was con-
strained to make trial of the virtues of water
As my experience increased was moro and more
astonished at the success which attended its use
n short, became a convert to the system of Hy-
dropathy, and years of experience in its applica-
ton, has only had the effect to strengthen my con-
fdence in it's merits. l have also found the b.
tanic practice, coupled with the use of Galvanism
and Electricity, quite auxiliary in many cases
of chronic diseases, especially in Paralysis and
Rheumatism. I'D" 'Ii
Oh that the eyes of the people might be OPEN
ed and their minds enlightened on these all i'm
portant subjects. May the time be fastened when
every suffering invalid can avail himself of the
blessings of a well conducted Hydropathic Insti-
tuition, which ere long will adorn every town and
village of our land. But ere this is done, thou
sands of valuable lives will be sacrificed on tie
altar of superstition, and yield their stomachs to
become the sinks of the Allopath and Apothecary.
Yours, for Medical Reform, a ri, :
T. SMELL.
An HoNEsr MAN.-On Tuesday evening man
who had just arrived at the City Hotel, Baltimore,
by the Philadelphia cars, suddenly missed bag
containing $4,000 in gold. While he was enquir-
ng of the hotel folks about the hack that brought
hn>from the depot, honest mickey Daugherty,'
the driver, brought him the bag, safe and sound,
and receive from the grateful owner $500, with
the remark, that it would help to get him a new
hack t' ia 'E--f1