Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-02-03
MEDICAL SupnRsr1r1oNs AND DKLus,oNs

The lecture on this subject by DR.. ]. e. Risley in
fremont Hail. last evening at the invitation Of the
Ladies' Benevolent Society, was not as largely
attended as it ought to have been: We can only
account for the falling off in the audience compared
with the attendance upon the free lectures OH the
ground that dime interpossd its huge proportions
between the interior Of the Hall and the absentees.
The lecturer occupied about two hours, yet not.
withstanding the room was uncomfortaby cold he
listened to with great attention to the close.
was evident that he had bestowed upon his lecture
much thought and research. TWAS systematically
arranged, well expressed and happily delivered
comprising u vast deal Of information on the sub
ject in connection with many philosophical observ
atoms and useful hints
| Prominent among the medical supersttions that
have in various ages engaged the attention Of man.
kind the lecturer named:
| l. Alchemy.
2. Judicial Astrology.
5. Talismans, amulets, colors' wells and springs,
odd numbers, &c.
Some instances given of popular superstitions on
| this subject were amusing. For instance, the foot
Of the elk has been regarded as a certain remedy
against epilepsy. 1t is stated that the manner Of
finding out the foot containing the virtue was to
knock down the beast when he would imme diately
liftup that leg which is most eficaeous to scratch
| his ear! Wewill enumerate several other supposed
remedies Of this disease: A ring, made from q
piece of silver collected at the Communion, has
been used for commissions and fits Of every
kind If collected on Easter Sunday, its efficacy is
greatly increased. Some prefer ring made Of
three nails or screws that have been used to fasten
a coffin, and that have been dug out of church.
yard. Others, a ring made of five siz-pences, col
lected from five different bachelors, to be conveyed
by the hand of bachelor, to smith who is q
bachelor-nons of the persons who gave the six.
pences are to know for what purpose, or to whom,
they gave them. Others, again, prefer a silver
ring contributed by twelve. young women, to be
worn on one of the patients fingers. -.
The Doctor attributed the success which has so
often followed the application of these absurd rem
edies to the operation of the Imagination (the pa
tisnt believing firmly in their efficacy, by which it
is possible these changes may have been effected in
the human body and u healthy action induced. On
the theory he accounted for the cures so often
attending the medical practice of quacks and en-
pyrics. Regular professional men are too sensible
of the deficiencies and 400 HeeAa5 alive to the un-
certainty Of the powers of medicine over disease to
speak boldly and decsivsy Of their ability to cure,
to gain the entire confidence of their patients,
while the bold and unblushing assertion Of the en-
pyric of a nevsr-failing remedy or system, con.
stantly reiterated inspires conf fence in the invalid
and not urfrequertly tends by its operation on the
mind to assist in the eradication of the disease.
Among medical decisions the Doctor enumerated
l. Tar Water.
2. Homeopathy. r
(: g. Hydropathy. ~ $3.50
1. The Thomsonian system
3. Indian SKILL
Each of these was reviewed and rsfuted - to the
satisfaction of the lecturer at least, and we must
confess that he used many potent and pungent ar
guments in support of his views. He also discour-
aged the idea of ladies practising medicine, as in
compatible with female character and without the
proper sphere of the sex. He gave women a gentle
hint concerning the fashionable folly of becoming
fashonaby sick for the purpose of being waited on
by the most fashionable physician in town. Fashion
is constantly exertng vast influence in favor of
medical decisions, and if the of this generation
would make use of the plain common sense of their
forefathers all the fascinating schemes of modern
delusionists would be overthrow and demolished.
We have received a carte blanche from the Pres
ident of the Ladies' Benevolent Society to return
thanks to the Doctor for his entertaining and prof
liable lecture and we take the more pleasure in
performing the duty from belief that he is deserv.
ing of the distinguished consideration. daily,