Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-11-10
From the Jefferson Independent. A Chat About Physic.
 BY AN II. D.
 CHAPTER lst.

In Arkansas, every town, village and ham, let, IS bountifully supplied with class of the Genus Homo" who style themselves doctors lgnorance superstition and quackery, go hand In hand, whilst knowledge and intelligence are dlsregardel ridiculed and utterly discouraged. The "Science of Medicine" has seldom if ever. been promuIgatei through the medium of the press in Arkansas and why? Simply because It's growth and diffusion have never been en- coura!ed The majority of persons in this country, will knowingly and willfuly employ the veriest gnoramus, the most egregious quack m preference to an educated physician, morelv rom the fact that he works little cheaper- Fms Is very poor encouragement to the true loverot "Medical Silence" and has doubtless Raep M 4er the 9E mf4Hs of dampng the ardor of many who failing to make money fast t MsSsst ast their legitimate trades in the old States, emgrate to Arkansas and suddenly stick up their shingles as doctors when in all probability they never saw inside human subject in their lives, never read work on medicine, and really don't know whether the heart is in the chest or abdomen. We see these men engaged in extensive prac- tlce, probably making fortunes, while the poor, studous, scientific physician, Is left to sit in his office and starve.
 Dul IL IS Ucl our lUlbUtlOO to Ill InS CllaOlef with strictures upon quack doctors or those who encouraged them; we are an independent sort of fellow, and care very little who give such persons employment, or how many are poisoned by their nostrums; just so long as we can make enough to eat and wear, we will be perfectly satsfed-when we fail to do that we'll travel"
 We design presenting to the reader, suc- of oh, outline of the character of the various diseases prevalent in this country, together with the treatment necessary to successful termination; and right here, wish it understood that we do not intend to be guided in our opinion by the books, but will draw upon our own udg- ment, obtained from several years practice and close observation of the science of medicine.- Should our views not meet the appreciation of medical men, and of the pnblic generally, why, they can do no harm, so that will be an end to it.
 The first disease to which we call your at | tention, is one which, notwithstanding it is the most common complaint incident to a southern aud western climate, isperhaps less understood; ; we mean intermittent Fever''-Chills aud Fever
 I All authors of note give as the "exciting cause'' of this disease-M alara or Masmata- a certain emanation that arises from the earth, impregnates the atmosphere, and produces there from certain specific effects upon the body; this malara according to the same author ties-em- anates from low, wet, marshy districts. Now we are compelled to differ with these high au- thorities respecting the cause of this disease and we do so, fully aware that we tread upon dangerous ground when we undertake to defend an opinion differing from theirs; nevertheless, we have the right, and we intend to endeavor to maintain our position. The point of differ ence is simply this: They contend that intermit- tent fever is produced by masmatic atmos- phere, while we take the ground that it origin ates in the stomach or liver, or in both.
 As we have neither time nor space to go into lengthy argument to disprove the opinions of thigh authorties,' we will merely ask few questions, which we intend shall have some bearing upon that point and proceed to prove our position.
 | Ii mlasma or malaria emanates only from wet low, marshy districts, and intermittent fever is produced by the atmosphere impregnated there with why is it that the disease prevails to q great-and at times greater extent in high and healthy attitudes? In this country, whvi is this disease much more common in the "Pine Hills" than In the bottoms? And lastly, ifthe origin oflntermttent fever is in the atmosphere of certain localities, why is not the disease epi- demc, invading the sy stem of all, or a majority ofthose who come within it's influence?
 As before said, we take the ground that "In. termlttent Fever'' originates in the stomach or liver, or in both together. The stomach is the organ that receives the food, and in which there takes place separation o the nutritious and ex- crementtlous portions, the former to be absorb ed through the "blnod vessels,'' in the general system, the latter to be carried through the "alimentary canal'' out of the body. When in- dlgestible food is taken into the stomach it re- mahs in its natural state until process of fer mentatIon or souring takes place, producing what we call, heart burn or sour stomach. This acid. or the greater portion. of it, is then taken up by the absorbents, carried into the blood vessels, and by them circulated throughout the system This, produces chills. During the presence of the chill, the blood becomes con. gested in the smaller vessels. to great extent. and while in this situation, the unhealthy mat. ter carried into it undergoes chauge, producing an inflammation of the mucus membrane lining the blood vessels; Il is inflammation of course produces hea of the body, and hence we have fever. After she fever has attained its climax. and while the unhealthy matter in the blood is 1 being absorbed and carried back, the hot stage begins to abate; nature makes an efioft to throw