Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-03-26
proeress or Medical science.


Progress of Medical Science.
1t must always be interesting to the
human race to hear of any improvement
in the means of alternating the natural
and artificial sufferings Of mankind, and
any discovery in the mysterious fields OF
materia medica must ever be hailed with
delight. The progress that has been
MAIDEN this field, even withina few years,
is truly wonderful Bold, investigating
minds, allied with powerful physical en-
durance and tenacity, have been at work
and removed some of the rubbish of an
Gent superstition which has so long at
taobed 10 the science of healing. Meth
DDS OF treatment have been simpified,
and cures are effected now by gentle and
soothing means, no more dreamed Of fifty
wears ago than steam engines, or tele-
oraph lines, or ocean cables. Even
chioroform, a simple agent, which has al
leviated so mach acute suffering, partic-
]
ularly in the late war, was unknown to
the medical fraternity until about twenty
wears ago. Nitrous oxide of gas, which
lulls the system into sleep as sound
as death for time, was discovered and
applied only few years ago. Who will
say that other developments equally as
wonderful cannot be made in this mate
rial and progressive age We are a
matter-offact people, and every year we
inquire more for practical results than
old and valueless theories Times have
wonderfully changed Since the doctor
combined the profession Of bleeding with
that of the barber, and had for bis sign A
striped pole.
These thoughts, which might be en-
larged upon by the column, are partly
suggested by some facts of late date,
which caaRot be accounted for upon the
theories generally ADVOCATED by the
medical fraternity They are learned,
intsIligent, thinking body, but slow to
yield up tbss hereditary practices and
opinions. Those who DAYS 10 take a
step in advance of any system not laid
down in old books is often treated with
distYqst, But this matters not to the
people, few 6f whom can read Latin
prescription, provided the progressive
physician can show practical results and
demonstrate that his new mode Of treat
ment is sn Improvement on the
old and mysterious one which they
never fully understood. There is nov
in Memphis an allopathic physician
&C twenty years practice in. New York,
who has eiacted cures of old chronic
cases, given up as hopeless by doctors of
the highest repute. To show that these
cures are genuine and permanent, we
viii refer. to soWe Of the patients now
alive and well in this city, whs had been
given mp by otler doctors. One is Mrs.
DIR. Burns who resides at 81 Market
street Her eyesight fsilBd her some
three years ago, and she was affected
With pulmonary disease, which con-
fined her 20 Der bed in helpless condi-
ton She was hopeless of recovery
: Three or for weeks ago DR.. Thorpe, at
the Peabody Hotel, was called in to see
her, and began bis psychological
course of treatment She commenced to
recover both her eyesight and strength
/ at once. and is nov able to
t see to household affairs. Last Sunday
she discovered herself in looking-glass
f for the first time in two years, and was
q~;se taken aback by the sight Ifthere
E be any aizbelievers, they can call and
see her AIMING
} Mrs. Myers, at loo Market stseet, who
! had been Frustrated some years with
r paralysis, has been 50 far restored undei
= DR.. Thorpes treatment as to lately
4 walk to church twice and back. Mr.
John Kaufman. at 20 Bradford Stree,
had the dropsy in his lower limbs, snC
5 one of his feet was swollen up 10 ~
enormous size. Under Dr. Thorpe
: hands . speedy cure was effected in 4
I few weeks, AID he is now well Call an'
see him. for his is ono Of the most re
b markable cases on record. M J. }
a Oven. o railroad conductor, who Il
J. known at s. Poplar street came her
j nearly blind, afflicted with liver disease
n white swelling, and nervous prcstrati9n
& Hewas attended fourweeks by DR.. Thorpl
b and went back to his work sound man
+ This is another extraordinary case ~hici
II seems almos, miraculous. The wife o
= d. Dickinson, at 3ss Jefferson stree
0 extended. vas cured likewise in a shor
4 time Of a dangerous cancer. DR.. ]. X