The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-07-19

hisil ITaia.......
a- .s ARRIVALS 1888
sIsii Train-...-. s.-..l2-J3 r. M
Accommodation. I.lO % y
Revolution in the Practice OF Medi-
cine. sarF
90 Dr. Flint, an eminent pa hysician of Louis
vile, a man who COMPREHEND at least, his
professional epoch, delivered a discourse be-
fore the Kentucky State Medical Society,
at its annual meeting in April last which
hos been published, and is marked by the
originality and ability of the author He
says medicine is at present in the midst of
one of those great transitions that mark, az
particular periods, the important advances
OF every science. The Hunterian epoch,
ia which most of rs have lived, and
learned, and practiced-though brief as
memorable, and prolific as any in the histo-
~ of our art-has encountered one of those
/ inevitable viciSsitudes in human thought,
Judgment, and action, and is, in dignity and
honor, passing away" ain the shadows
which coming events cast in advance, the
observer will not fail 10 discover, in dim
and cloudy outline, the form and presence
Of the new era that is opening 1.-THE
neurophatic phenomena of disease are evil
IDENTIFY in the ascendant, and destined to oc-
cupy in the future the place 80 long and ex-
clusively maintained by those that are vas.
cular and infammatory"
The danger of dangers in transition Pc
riods, lies in the tendency of the human
mind TO Oscillate 10 extremes. Tired with
familiar exercises and results-captivated
by novelties-intoxicated by the inspira-
tons Of hope-we rush forward to positions
which sober experience proves untenable,
and in the retreat that follows, we lose
spirit and courage, as well AS the actual
fruits We might have secured by more pa
tient and conservative labor. The problem
at such times should be the combination of
the two great elements of all exislence-
stability and prOgress-fdelity to onr in
heritance from the past, and cordial wei
come to the invitations OF the future.
The briefest reflection is Sufficient TO show
independent of positive experience
durable progress are the extreme doctrinal
views of disease that at times have been
prevalent Every constituent portion of
any organized being, may have its properties
or capacities so perverted as To constitute
primary original disedss ia ths being to
which it belongs and the philosophical So
luton Of the question of the starting point
of any train of morbid action, in any indi-
yidual case is TO be effected, not by the ap-
plication of any doctrinal tests, hut by an
alyEing the facts and phenomena of each
particular case, and accepting, with salts
faction, the last results Of such analysis,
whether they be presented in fibre or in
fluid
Among the changes that mark our period
none are more conspicuous than that which
consists in substituting cautions and eIpec-
tant medication for the ie-C.c pharmacy
that prevailed generality fifty years ago, and
which 7iili holds sway in some parts of the
country There his BEEN growing conf
dcnoe in natures recuparstise power, and
disposition among Intelligent pFactiiion-
ers to mitigate the evils Of polypharrnacy
and The meddicsone and dogmatic practice
still so prevalent in this country. 1t is won
derfu', in applying the new principles and
doctrines 10 the current manifestations of
disease, to zee how they have heeu sustained
by results The dngmatic relations between
disease sni the pharmaceutical rene lies
are more and more distFusted, ana the ris
mcdiedtr.I OF nature is more and more in
.voked. The golden rule now enjoined upon
I young practitioners is, in the use Of drugs
/ be sPARING. Or. Holmes. in recent ad-
dress TO graduating class of medical stu
I dents, in enforcing these views, said, "many
, of the remedies yon would give a patient
/ would make well person 81 III, that be
would send for you AT once, if he had taken
the dose accidentally. Is it quite fair to
I give such thing to "A sick man, unless you
are very sure that it will do much more
I good than the very considerable harm you
know that ii will cause? Be very gracious
in the use OF drugs, especially triti children.
Prof: Brnnet says the prevalent Therapeutics
are so exceptionaiile, that many intelligent
enquirers take refnge in universal skepti-
cism as 10 the action of drugs, and leave
every thing TO nature: Nay it is even CON
tended, that our remedies, so far from
doing good, in many instances do positive
HARM and that it is safer to trust TO nature
than to the physician This "medical in
fidelity" is the result Of the reaction from old
abuses. The want of faith is not in a wise
and intelligent professional care of the sick
a care that employs in their behalf all the