New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-31

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The theory Of Comte in regard to the three-fOld
development of human science receives some of its
most remarkable Illustrations from the history OF
medicine. In his opinion, every branch OF knowl-
edge passes through three successive stages, the
theological, the metaphysical, and the positive,
before reaching its highest degree of advancement.
During the theological phasis, appeal is made to
supernatural causes for the explanation OF phe-
nomena; in the metaphysical, mental distractions
are made to take the place of actual entities;
while in the positive phasis, everything but facts,
determined by the evidence of the senses is eimin-
ated from the sphere Of scientific investigation.
! In a review of Comte's Positive Philosophy, we
! stated certain objections under which this theory
appeared to labor as explained and applied by it
author while at the same time we admitted that
a three-fold movement in the order indicated by
! COmte was shown to a certain extent in the
| history of science. Following the path opened in
the prese1t volume, we shall proceed to point on
out the changes in medical theory and practice, as
illustrative of the three-fold development to which
reference has been made.
The first teachers of medicine of whom We have
any knowledge were the priests OF ancient Egypt
They surrounded its cradle with alegories and
! fables Patients who were cured of disease were
required to inscribe in the temples an account of
their symptoms, and the remedies which had
| proved effectual for their cure. From these rec
ords medical code was formed by the priests,
| which was soon elevated to the character of
sacred book. No deviation was permitted from its
rules, and the penalty of death was inflicted on
any one who should attempt different practice, in
case it was fatal TO the patient. Among the He
brews. too, for a long succession OF ages, the Lee
vites combined the practice of medicine with their
saceIdotal functions. No mention is made OF lay
physicians among the Jews, except in the Book OF
Ecclesiasticus mot Ecclesastes as stated in this
volume l. the author of which is supposed to have
fourished about two or three centuries before the
| Christian era.
The Hindoos identify the medical and sacerdotl
professions No one but Brahnin is allowed to
exercise either function. The science of medicine
is claimed to be directly from heaven, and not the
legitimate subject of human investigation. In
China the invention of medicine is ascribed to one
of the emperors, who regned before the period Of
authentic history. He is regarded as the author OF
the work which still serves as guide for medical
practice though its pretensiOns to SO remote all an
tguity are, of course, fabulous 1t is doubtless a
collection of fragments written by various authors
| in different eras. The Chinese physicians fancy a
number of whimsical connections between the or
cans of the human body and the elements, the
seasons of the year, the stars, colors, and other
objects equally dissimilar. The heart, according
TO their system Of correspondence, is analogous TO
fire. to the planet Mars to Summer, 10 Spring, and
10 southern elimes. 1t comes from the liver, pro-
duees the spleen and the stomach, and exerts an
influence on the blood, the forehead, the tongue
aud the palms of the hands. 1t is sympathetic
with odors, red coors, such as the comb of the
cock. lively, gay sounds laughing, the exhalations
of roast meat, bitter taste and sweet The Chinese
have cultivated the Materia Medca and Pharmacy
with considerable success. They have no distinct
class of apothecaries. The physicians prepare
and administer their own remedies. Anatomy Is
almost wholly unknown. Hence no progress has
been made in surgery. The slightest operation
| WHICH requires DIOOu-ittlAlS 10 w" -
their art. They, however, make frequent use oil
cupping lamentations, lotions, baths and acapunc-
ture, which last they execute with needles OF gold
or silver. They employ cautery by means OF moxas,
or r,d-hot buttons. No better accOuntcan be given
of any portion of their therapeutic system.
In the early ages of Greece medicine was insep-
araby combined with mythology. No fewer than
thirty gods or goddesses, heroes or beroines, were
regarded as patrons of some of the branches OF the
healing art. Among these, Melampus is the first
| in point of time, 10 whom divine bOnors were paid
! for his extraordinary cures. His most famous ex-
plot of this Kind was the cure OF the daughters OF
| Priam. In an excess of monOmania they imagined
| that they we're transformed into COWS, and rushed
how ling wildly through the forests. He gave them
an infusion of white hellebOre in milk, and then
caused them to be chased over the fields by some
| light-f9oted young boys until they were tired out
This process restored them to their senses and the
cure was completed by certain my site neantAtons'
/ and bath in one OF the numerous fountains OF
Arcadia.
But the most celebrated physician of the mytho-
! logical age was the immortal EsculaPus, who was
the reputed son of Apollo, and the object OF unyer-
| sal yeneration from the states OF antiquity. In
regard to his methods of cure, We have nothing bu'
vague tradition PiBdar, who lived nearly
thousand years after tie date assigned TO his birth
was the first to describe the renowned physician.
" Escuapius, says he, "eured the ulcers, wounds,
feyers, and pains OF all who applied to him, BY en-
chantment, calming potions, incisOns, and exter-
Isl applications"