Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-10-17

in which the Jews were placed,
neccsstating change from public
worship to private deyotions. The
ReehaDites also, who never drank
wine, originated az the same time
and under Tie same influences.
MEDICINE AMONG THE HINDoos.
We nave no historical data by
which to trace the progress of medi-
cine among the Uindoos, if progress
there has been. In the time Of Alex-
ander (B. c. 323), the Brahmins We're
both savans and physicians. Strabo
informs us that the Brahmins were
men cf exemplary temperance, and
passed much OF their time in soli-
tudr, meditating cn the causes Of the
phenomena OF nature. In more
modern times other sccts of physi-
clans have appeared in that country;
but their knowledge OF drug-reme
dies, fortunately or unfortunately,
has been extremity limited, and most
OF them cndeavor to cure much more
by regimen than by medicine. There
has also long been class OF rnagi-
cians and sorceres who itinerate from
place to place, and exercise their pre-
tended skill on all willing dupes.
But in India, as in all other coun
tries during the era OF superstition
diseases were imputed to the infiu
ence of evil genii, aud the patient
could not be expected to recover un-
til the obscessing spirits had been
expelled by incan,ations and purltica
tons And as frequent bathing,
simplicity in diet, and temperance in
all things relating to personal habits
were the common virtues OF the peo-
pie, their diseases were not liable to
be violent nor obstinate. In com
mon. however, with other nations,
the Hindoos were devout believers
in many absurd traditions and gross
superstitions.
MEDICINE IN CHINA AND JAPAN.
In former times medicine and as.
trology were taught together in the
imperial schools. Physicians were in
little repute, and any one was allow
ed to practice according to his own
notions. We have no knowledge OF
a single medical school existing at
this day in the Chinese empire. Sa-
pcrstition prevents tho physicians
dissecting dead bodies, hence their
knowledge OF anatomy and physiolo
gy is crude and insignificant. Riaicu
Ious Mysticism and trickery are the
chief resources of the practitioners.
The phveicians OF the Court oi Pekin
attribute most d seases to spirits;
some, however, are imputed 10 winds,
and others to wait OF heat in the
flulds-a germ of the modern Thorn
sorlan adage. Heat is life" Like
the people Of most other countries
the Chinese have entertained the no
ton of discovering an c'l.r:,' rita
which would render life immortal on
1 the earth, ana some have fancie,l the
panacea to reside in the ginseng root
which has sbeen largely exported
from this country to China. Unde,
the name of cordials immense quan
titles of medicine are sold in the
Chinese markets, which the leluded
people use as indiscrimiEately as the
more enlightened nations do the
nostrums OF the quacks.
The Japanese seem to have bor
rowed their medical notions from
China without improving them. The
tormenting process of cauterlzation;
and moxa burnings were among the
most common remedial measures
and have been largely rssorted to
both in Japan and China. for the
purpose OF preventing diseases.
MEDICINE AMONG THE seyTHlAss.
History records several notable
Scythian physicians who professed
wonderful cures. They were even
said to have arrested great epidem.
les. But as their remedial measures
consisted principally OF charms and
and magic, with means to appease
the wrath Of the Almighty, we need
not dwell on them. II is worth
noting, however, that one OF the Scy'
thia's famous physicians is credited
with the remarkable performance
OF arresting an epidemic of the
plague after he was dead and buried,
The process was very simple. II
consisted only in appearing to the
wife of one of the members of the
Areopagus. The Athenlans preba
bly, believed this story, for they
gratefully erected him an alter on
which they annually sacrificed q
white horse.
] MEDICINE AMONG THE cELTS.
The Druids, who were the learned
class among the Celts, were former
" the physicina. OF the people, as
we'll as their judges, legislators and
priests. They are regarded by his
torians as charlatans and imposters
They succeeded in making the cred
ulous people believe that they cor
responded directly with the gods
| Their religious ceremonies were Gel
cbrated under the oak, from which
circumstance they attributed to the
misletoe the virtue of panacea for al
! diseases.-l Science Of Heath for Octo
Der.