The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-03-25

almost a. soon a346W6ll0WeRS OILS anu
resins more slowly enter fhe circula-
ton. If it is desired to produce .
violent shock, q single large dose IN
no doubt most likely to- do thls; but
if, as is more commonly the case, 1t is
desired gradually I'd modify 6hc un-'
healthy action, small doses frequently
repeated will answer the purpose bet
ter, and prevent the i'll effects which y
single large dose might occasion. II
is constant marvel to the experien-
ccd physician to see the recklessness
with which the tyro and the quaek
employ medicines which should be
used only with the greatest caution.
Sydenham's motte, z Primum est
non nocere," seems less the motto
with such than "Do evil that good
may come" and the evil surely fol-
lows their exertions if the good does
not. The old-fashioned idea of treat
ment was-use deroic remedies and
the doctor when called in consultation
felt bound TO distinguish himself by
ordering stronger measures than his
predecessor had ventured OIL. Many
old-fashioncd people, who have been
accustomed to physic themselves and
their neighbors, think, when their
own means have failed, "It's no bse
calling in the doctor; I've blistefed,
myself. and taken calOmel and lauda-
mum, and there is nothing stronger to
be tried ;" while the fact is, the skilled
hand employs gentle measures, the
more skilled the more gentle, and
with simple means-perhaps even
without drugs--will do what knock
down treatment" has failed to accom-.
plish. t20fb ,Ct'i9E
1t requires, however, much more
moral courage in the medical man to
guide his patient gently by unOstenta-
tious means than by heroic medica-
ton it is much easier to give calomel
or to bleed patient than, by perse-
vering with slowly acting remedies,
to secure gradual recovery. The same
is true with sleeping draughts and
cough medicines, which give imme-
diate relief at the expense of future
evil. When palliation only can be
aimed at, these may be allowed but
if cure is sought FOR, it is frequently
right to resist the desire for these Sc
datives. which often and often destroy
all hope of recovery in cases which
might otherwise be hopeful. -.
Some years ago, when the reaction
against bleeding wac i'll its infancy, a
young surgeon who had imbibed a
strong prejudice against depletion
was appointed to a ship. When leav-
ing the Thames, a sailor fell from the
mast upon the deck and was taken up
stunned. The doctor was sent for,
and was expected to bleed the pa
tient; but this he considered unneces-
sary, and refused to do. The captain
at once ordered out boat and sent
him ashore, saying he would rather
sail without a surgeon than with one
who had not pluck enough to open a
vein.
The able physician often orders no
drugs; for Inc finds it wiser to with
hold them, even If he believes they
would do good, because the patient
and nurses think if the physic is taken
every thing necessary has been done ;
but if none is prescribed, there is more
chance that the general directions as
to the maintenance an even temper
ature, attention to posture, diet, and
general sanitary laws, will have that
consideration which their Importance
demands. Not that drugs are useless
far from it but wllen the same good
result can be secured without them,
they ought to be withheld. 1t is an
old saying that Operations are the
opprobrium of surgery and it may
be said with equal truth that " drugs
are the opprobrium of medicine !" and
it is really astonishing how much can
be accomplished by the enlightened
attendant without their Intervention.
People are, however, much more will
ling to take physic than to leave of
eating, drinking, or working to eX-
cess.
Scient fic research and practical ex-
perience alike teach this-that a ra-
tional and judicious dietary is abso-
lutely essential to health. The light
quantity, the right times for our
meals, due variety, are needful to
secure the "mens sana in cOrpOre
sano." We must forget that there are
many whose digestion is good. but
whose power of acquisition is too
small tc satisfy it. 1t cannot be too
deeply impressed on us, that this
matter of food must not be considered
in relation to ourselves alone, to one
or another class of the community in
dependent of the rest.
The Divine law is fully borne out
by practical and too often bitter ex-
perience; "We are members one Of
another" if some mem Der suffer, AL
the members suffer with it."