New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-09
4 CALL TO TIE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
A PAPER BY DIR. HENRY A. HARTT ON THE TREAT
MENT OF CHRONIC DISEASES.

A DR. A.
MENT OF CHRONIC DISEASES.
Dr. Henry A. Hartt of this city read paper
last evening before the Medical Library aud Journal
Association of New York on The Prevention and Cura-
bhy OF Chronic Diseases" He began by referring to
the excessive severity OF the school Of medicine in when
he educated, which followed by an inevitable
reaction. He considered thar this reaction was greatly
promoted by change which had taken place in the type
of disease, and by the luxurious habits produced by
modern civilization He censured severely the imbeciity
Of modern practice, asCribng TO 1t the prevalence OF
chronic diseases and the general impression that they
are incurabe He advocated the return to depletion IN
u moderate degree. the use OF mercury and counter
irritation. and criticised the profession for allowing
water rubbing and passive motion TO be monopoized
by ignorant pretenders and irregular practitioners He
suggested an institution under the control OF The Faculty
to which private practitioners could send their patients
TO obtain the benefits which they can only now receive
from the hands Of quacks In discussing the Subject
counterrraton referred the case OF the late Hon
Charles Summer as aordins striking illustration OF ITS
power. and paid glowing tribute to Dr. BrO"h0equaI
To the course Of his remarks he said:
I have thus frankly expressed my views with regard
to necessity Of inusug new force ana Vlgor INTO
the practice of medicine; the universal adoption OF I'D
dtiona methods treatment. and most vigorous ad-
herer &c 20 lessons of experience believe by hs
alone we can arrest the downwara progress oi
the art and the confidence OF the people: be
that by this means we can materially dnlhlsn
the rate Of mortality ana prevent 20 gfe1 I'M L
occurrence Of chronic disease believe also tnht py
diseases which now exist ADMIT Oh courS' tAat
are maadies which the present state OF our KnoWI-
edge we cannot with certainty control We GO not IN
dersand the nature Oh oance, ~ '' ni1s ~
antidotes for them But FOR Malaria ana the pOus Oh
sntidofes by means Of which can efectu-
| ally eradicate them from the system. 49,
/ II I am right the propositions wlicn nave Iald
down are fraught with benehcent consequences the
magnitude of which no language can eAaKgorate Ihy
are In opposition 10 the universal skeplcio tne proc
lamaton ~ a gospel OF faith ana hope 10 an men, Out
especially that great most OF nVahds WAC, Ike tne
woman in Scripture, have tried many physicians ana
! never grown better, but rather the worse and VINO
nOw-in weakness or pam, OF DrtS tniSssIess VI
an COMMUNICATIVE dragging Out a wretched existence
| ON ped cOuch In palace or novel, or TdFeunk up
| and down the earth IN search OF ease ana rest
trumpet that there Is hope for them science IS DOt
/ powerless, but IN her vast StOrehOuSG NOUS tle
will grid themselves for the work dnd with wisdom ana
energy and perseverance, employ sn ' tbos raSs
Of sorrow and suffering Will be heard a song OF
thanksgiving and pT dSner %nd% T' al an 00 ade
d1ate basis OF facts. During the last 20 years,
navel given especial attention TO the urea ment of
obropic Diseases and am prepared justify the
claims which have made In behalf Of the great scehce
which have devoted my me- OF the presena'i VI
successful cases series Of papers one on cArOnc
rheumatism on asthma, and one on sJphnS ~ NC
followed by others IN due time.
There WAS considerable adverse criticism regarding
many OF Dr. Hlrtts statements. Dr. Foster said that
there had change in the type o. disease IN the
past 30 years Twenty-Five years diseases required
more active treatment than now, but he Thought hat
should the same types return more acuNe uea'"eH'
would be again needed. Dr. T. W. Taylor said that be
Ind looked with dismsy at the disparagng picture
drawn by Dr. Hartt theory Of blood letting he said,
was not ignal with DR.. HART He complained OF an
inconsistency in statements OF The paper, and de-
MED that rheumatism and asthma were nouraDie Ihs
remarks Of speaker personal rather than ar
gumentative. ,-
DR. Garrsh said that the profession was advancing.
mot retrOgading 1t further advanced than any
diner AS many patients cured IN this country as
in any He regretted that such sentiments had
haen uttered He advocated the udiciOus OF the
lancet He had where patients had died
when the letting of pint OF blood would have saved
their lives -,
Another member said that he found fault with the
statement deterioration in the health of
men and He said that statistics proved that
fewer people die than died century ago, ana II
fewer people died now he Thought that was proof
that they healthy than they were 100 years
Dr. Hartt said that the scope OF his argument had
been and that he had been misrepre-
senIed He did not advocate extreme D0odletng, and
he aid not believe that statistics Trustworthy.
After a few brief remarks by various members, the
meeting adjourned.