New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-10-12
BRIrF EXPOsITIoNs Oh


BRIEF EXPOsITIoNs or RATIONAL MEDICINE To
WHICH Is PKFFtXEp TIE Paradise on DoCroRs,h FABLE
b. JACOB BcELow, NJ d. Y mo. Pr. 81 Boston'
Phlips, Sampsou Co.
In tbs treatise the principles and claims Of what the
author deems Rational Medicine set forth in clear
and vigorous style. The work is dedicated 10 Sir John
Forbes, whose impartial and learned investigations
in the part performed by nature in the cure Of
diseases have contributed largely to the philoso-
ply OF Medicine. The fable entitled the Paradise Of
Doctors was read at the annual dinner OF ae Massa-
chnssfts M..~i s~4i~.y :; u~r. 1893, - iicSofy ~
designed to lead the reader to the conclusion that
neler the over-dugging of the past, the homeo-
patlic iufntesimas of the present, worthy Of the
confidence and support of an intelligent community.
Tho story sparkles with the weknown wit and humor
OF its author, and the weakness of an emnenty guilt
bic portion of the community shown up in the hap
piost of satrca yiens from the extremes of absurdy
which have in the last half century gained the respect
of the people old gentleman who represents COM
mon sense comes to the conclusion that there is such
thing as rational medicine, Independent Of all SIS
tens, giving drugs when necessary and Withholding
them when useless injurious-that many diseases
are seflimed depending for their cure quite as much
on time and nature on art-that the skill of the
physician consists not in the abundance Of his remedies
but in the judgment with which a few arc applied or
withheld. After the fable comes the essay on Ration
al Medicine presenting philosophical array Of argu-
ments in favor Of common-sense treatment OF disease
founded on the laws OF nature and the seimitaon Of
many maladies. There are five methods of medicine
prevailing in civilized countries the present day which
the author denomina.es follows: |. The artificial
method or keroic relying on active artificial remedies
for the removal of disease from the earliest ages
kind hes sought for specifies for diseases with the
energy and tie same success for the philosophers
stone the elixer vite such the tremendous
ray Of depetives evacuants, Alternatives tones aud
deobstrueuts that il became serious question
whether persons died from disease from the doctor;
this system has nearly passed away except in the
large cities, whore q few ignorant and unprncpled
quaCk still levy their contributions upon the creiu-
lous sick. III. Tie erpectaa method consisting in
interference leaving the disease to the powers Of
nature alone; this has found great favor in Europe
especially in France that there IS some basis for this
method is shown by the spontaneous recovery Of AMI
mali, savages and of careless neglected, isolated
persous-there can be no doubt that the amount Of
premature death would be less if diseases left alb
soutely to themselves rather than to the reckless and
contradictory modes Of practice usually prevalent. III
The hen GcyQ'I,c method, which lie defines "spe-
cious mode Of doing nothing" leaving the case in
reality nature while the patient i amused and salts
fed with nominal and nugatory remedies or, in time
Of real need, deserving It's faith and flying openly or
secretly 70 the of very heroic remedies the effect
of this system, now in course of experiment on
large scale, will be to show that the sick may re-
without the use Of disagreeabe or severe med
cation this Will not be the first instance OF great good
flowing from very questionable source. w. The
erelaare method, applying one remedy to al or 10
most diseases including hydropathy, the use OF mineral
waters, electrical and other specific establishment
and universal and patent medcines as To hydro
patty. il is argued need only look at the robust
Pressnitz himself, dying in the prime Of life in the
midst Of his own watercure to be convinced Of il in
applicability 10 ell forms of disease the same remark
will apply to all other exclusive methods ". The
rational method which recognizes nature as the great
agent in the cure of disease employing art as an aux-
AIRY when needed The public expect more Of the ply
stefan than they ought; they expect him to cure oil
diseases and think that medicine is the art Of curing
such diseases. Many diseases however, are incursbe
and such must happen to every living man; smo'e
Just definition is that Medicine ia the an OF unoe'-
standing diseases and Of curing relieving them "nen
possible There are few diseases which are ~ ouce
tura.e by medical meansthere are also more when
'elmittd, incurable now by srt yet su'eep,'o'.
Of recovery under natural processes, WITH OF "'"'u.
the Interference of art. To this class belong eoc~
portion of acute Diseases and which are oeciaeo
ly chronic and finally there is vast numosr o' ~,
sx1a