The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-06-08

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men il behalf of our association.
bid You . hearty welcome, and cor
daily invite you to participate in thu
proceedings Of this convention.
| 1t may not seem amiss in me to
speak . little In regard to the reform
IN the practice of medicine the mas
ses have behold with amazement the
changes that have been brought
about in the science and practice Of
medicine, and who will deny but
That y great reformatson has been
brought about in the practice ofmed.
icine in the last quarter of q centuryl
What physician would now attempt
to bleed in an ordinary case OF fever.
sore throat, or plsurisy pain /?
Or would it be thought rational
practice now to give caIomel in re.
peated doses for sore eyes, rheumat-
ism or disyepsia ? Or to salivate his
patient until the tongue became 90
swollen that the mouth could not
hold IL There is great change
being wrought in the practice of the
healing art. Some may ask what
has brought about this great changer
1t is BY the Improvement and may
say grand achievement IN Therapeu
tics, the introduction of milder and
safer remedial agencies, for the cure
Of disease that We have in the form
Of alcoloids, resmoids, essential tine
lures, 6uid extracts, by thus enlarg-
ing our materia medica which has
given new vigor and opened the way
Of research.
No apothecary stock would now
be thought complete, no manufactu-
ring chemist or druggist be up with
the times unless he kept all standard
preparations now used by Eclectics.
II has been thought by our oppo-
nents that the teachings and doc
trines OF Eclectics were ut war with
the most scientific system ofthe pres
emit dsy, regarding all improvements
as an innovation upon an established
order Of things, and the doctriAes
heretofore thought rs orthodox for
getting that the whole system of
medicine is composed of theories and
doctrines, and when in the course Of
events new discoveries were made it
would completely overturn predeces-
sors. who had been previously con-
sidered the perfection of science.
Opposition, however, is not confined
to the medical profession but refor-
mers in nll the arts and sciences have
suffered like prosecutions. The in
PRODUCTION ofsteam navigation was
thought foolish, the invention of tele-
graphing . humbug, and the commu-
nication with parties at distant
point over the wires considered per-
iectly ridiculous. Martin Luther
who dared expose Roman Catholic
ism, and break the shackles of intol-
erances and bring about . change and
reformation in the christian religion
did not escape persecution, and many
Of his adherents were burned to
death at the stake.
Columbus for attempting to dis
cover America was sneered at. Har
vay who led to the discovery in fnll.
of the circulation of the blood, and
made known his theory over two
hundred and fifty years ago, met
with ridicule by the learned men of
Europe, they holding that it was On
innovation upon principles and doc
trines laid down by their predeces-
sors, it was claimed that the circula.
ton of the blood was known to Hip
ocrates, others claimed that Servetus
and Selsapinus had come to under
stand fully, or discovered the circu-
lati0n of the blood, and for any 9TH
ers to claim to improve on what was
then known was absurd-and al
though Harvey was prosecuted and
even hunted down for daring TO
make known his discoveries, yet it
has been subsequently ascertained
that the doctrines of the circulation
as taught by Servitus and Selsapinus
was imperfect, and the name of Har-
vey now stands forth as beacon
light.
When DR.. Jenner had fully inves-
tigated and finally published his dis
covery in vaccination rs preventive
against Smallpox in 1898, he too was
ridicnled, but I would ask what en-
lightened people now but that avail
themselves Of DR.. Jenner's discovery
and so we may add is it and ever
has beens with reformers in the sci
ence Of medicine, none have ever
dared to throw off the old shackles,
and advocate more safe and rational
ideas but have suffered persecution !;
yet we rejoice that the work and
cause of reform goes bravely on, and
to-day the most intelligent are not
ashamed to declare themselves Ec
lectics or reformers in the practice
of the healing art, and Eclectic
physicians now are located in almost
every town and hamlet, East, West,
North and Southland comparison
OF the percentage Of the fatality in
that and tho old regular system is a
sufficient guarantee TO . lucrative
businoss-and We welcome all refor-
mers to our ranks, and as we have
said before, ifsuch will come to our
ranks We will greet and welcome
them, no matter whether they have
graduated in an Alopathic or Home
pathic school, for large proportion
Of Eclectic practitioners are. gradu-
ates of some other school, and it was
with them q matter of choice and
conviction, watching tho superior
success attending the reformed prac-
tice, induced them 10 leave the ways
of error, adopt mode ofcuring their
patients in the least possible time,
without injuring their constitutions
and also greatly lessen tho per cent
age Of death-so We would most
cordially say to those who would join
our ranks from q conviction that we
are right and from desire to do
good 10 their fellow men, come and
go with us, we will do you good for
the world has spoken, and is speak.
ing good concerning reform in tho
HEALING art Tn cnnclnsion oaptio