Columbia weekly news., 1859-07-14
3 An FKaN NCIBCS
Eclectic.

A name given 10 class of physicians who select
their remedies from all sects in meiicine-henc
adopted by those American physicians who profess to"
be liberal in their view, and independent of party aIi
favor progress and reform in medical science.
yhe principal object OF the Eclectic System is TO re-
foIm of the many errors of the old system of
medical practice and substitute In the place Of dele
terious drugs articles equally efcacious, and at the
same time act in harmony with the laws that govern
the animal economy. No candid and experienced ply
sicsn of the present day will deny what observing
public has long asserted-that The various prepara>
tions of mercury antnony arsenic q nd mauy-other
articles of the mineral kingdom cannot be admins
tered in the many conditions OF the system II which
they have been used without immediate prosnec-
tive injury 10 the "a tent IN proof of these assertions
we quote the language of Dr. James Hamilton, Fellow
Of the Royal College of hysicians. Edinburgh, who
says that among the numerous poisons which have
been used for the alienation OF diseases there
few which possess mere active and of course
dangerous powess than mercury. Even the siIup
lest and nildest forms of that mineral exert most
extensive influence the human frame, and many
its chemical preparations, deleerous that in
their sna let dose they speedily destroy life He aso
that when the effects of mercury on the human
bedy accurately Investigated and duly considered
il cannot fail to appear that infinite injury must
from lis Dr. Rees. Of the Royal College of
Surgeons London, says we know not whether we have
- hail the discovery of mercury a bless
ng. regard il since the diseases it entails
numerous those which II cures.
Entertaining this view OF The subject the founders of
the Eclectic System manifested their faith by their
works, by honestly setting themselves at woTk 10 hnd
and introduce into the iofesson safe aud more efficient
choogogues Whey felt that the indscrimirate OF
mercury productive Of great mischief. and doing
more than all other combined to create pTeu
dice against scientific medicine. To destroy the conf
dence Ot community in its practionerS, and drive
them from the ply sican to the nostrum dealer they
must introduce substitutes though in doing they
III ght, like many reiormers ana beneiaetors before
them be called Tor q time quacss and empires. But
through their labor and perseverance, il il abund
spty demonstrated, TO all familiar with Eclectic re-
sources that for rousing the Liver and eecting the
Secleiicns generally and even for producing SalfStOn
of a harmless character Leptandrm, FodophN Hin
Anotynin Irdin and occasional combination o. other
aric,ee are much reliable than Mercury and at
tended with of its hazards. Evidence is not lack
ing to show that the 0xicologcal properties OF antno
meFcuras Eclectics discard these also. because tue
nnications for which they used DO met with
more saety, promptness and certainty with other
edeS For the sedative expectorant, and da phoretc
effects OF tartarzed antimony, more thsr substitutes
are found aconite gelseminum sanguinara ascie ia
&c. No beneficial effects be obtained from arsenic
which cannot be obtained from hydIdstin, quinae.
xanthoxylin and sacine. Tile Eclectic System embra-
all the medicines OF mineral origin which exper-
has proven to be lnLOcuous and Serviceabe for
the cure diseases, when used in suitable quantities
and a.; suiiab bic tines Such medicines ffeqneRtiy
used, among which may he mentioned the preparations
itop lime. soda sulphur aud maty oi lie suphates
aud Donates No article OF real lers peuc value Is
thrown aside which, with our present knowledge OF
chemical and physiological laws. be used without
risk de rnent the future integrity and be2th CT
the system.
Dr. Snyder devotes his time almost exclusively % The
treatment of Chronic Gud surgical diseases Career
TumourS Plies Fstalas, tSe cufsd without the
The knife. and ATTENDED eith but little o. paia.