New-York tribune., 1869-01-20
A NEW MEDICAL PHILOSOPHERS, We

A NEW MEDICAL PHILOSOPHY We
have new medical philosophy rational, easy
OF comprehension. and proven to be true 1t
is simply this that the vital principle, in its
! struggles with disease and the causes of disease,
requires to be fostered and sustained.
Opinions may differ as to the bestpaIhs Of
carrying out this idea, but all enlightened
physicians agree that it is sound and logical.
The surest way to kill an Invalid is to make
persistent war upon his strength and stamina.
Whoever questions the propriety of precisely
opposite course is half q century behind the
age.
Many of us can recollect the time when it was
considered "good practice" to give violent pur-
gatiyes during the prevalence of epidemics, az
safeguard against infection. 1t is now known,
however, that to deplete the system severely,
u,lder such circumstances is to invite an attack,
|
and to increase the probability of fatal issue.
Within the recollection of persons much
| younger than the "Oldest inhabitant,' paticnts
suffering from intermittent, remittent, and other
malarious fevers, were sometimes freely bed
with the lancet. And, as a matter of course,
[ fAl.o L. Al. n
yet active purgation is sometimes recommended
as the best preparation for change from
healthy to an unhealthy climate. Such stupid
ity, however is fortunately rare, tonic treatment
being the approved formula under such circum-
stances. It is admitted that unwholesome air il
eminently depressing and devitalizing, and
therefore any medicine operating in the sama
way must be considered an ally Of malaria,
not protection against Its pernicious influence.
But when it is conceded that genial tonic,
and not fierce cathartic, is the medicine indi-
Gated by reason and experience as the best
means of preparing the system to resist extra
ordinary causes of disease, the question occurs,
what tonic7 Raw spirit, even if it could bs
pure, which is impossible, will not answer II
| is an excitant, and nothing more, and its action
is infammatory, not iDvigoratiDg. In fact, it is
not a tonic at all.
| What is it that the wise and thoughtful prac-
| titioner desires to prescribe an antidote to
infection, when infection is in the airi Simply
the best possible combination of vegetable tOnics
| infused into a pure stimulant-the stimulant
being chiefly useful as q vehicle for diiusns
their effects rapidly through the system. The
same tonic juices, incorporated with water,
would be comparatively powerless. The alco-
| holic principle prepares the stomach to absorb
them, accompanies them in their progress
| through the system, and predisposes every organ
which they reach to assmiate them.
Here then, we have the philosophy of the
preventive and remedial operation of proper
vegetable invigorant, when in conjunction With
fine alcoholic stimulant
The next question is. does such an invaluable
compound existq We claim that it does, in
the form of Hostetters Stomach Bitters. In
making this assertion we merely place on
record, for the consideration Of thinking men,
the opinions of thousands who have had expert
mental proof of the fact in their own persons.
1t is not necessary to enlarge upon this point
here. For twenty years the public have been
reading testimony on the subject from distin-
guished citizens in every walk of life, and they
are therefore, as familiar with it as the propri-
etors of the medicine themselves. The efficacy
of the Bitters is a matter that has long since
passed beyond the pale of argument, and be-
come fixed and established truth.
The chief purpose of this article is to impress
upon all, and especially upon the constitutions
ally feeble, who live in localities subject to tho
visitations of epidemic and endemic diseases,
the necessity of invgoration. The public, with
the knowledge it has before it, may safely DO
left 70 select the means for the accomplishment
of that end.
Perhaps there is no mlment common to all
climates and countries in which a wholesome
stomachic and general invigorant is so essen
tally requisite as in Dyspepsia. Without such
a medicine, the complaint cannot be cured.
Regular exercise may do much, dieting may do
o,rob nure air NAV do much; but We have