The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-04-01

our irregularities and trespass upon the
devine arrangement that marked out
the province of life and set bounds to
our fields of investigation. We often
mistake the extent and character OF our
knowledge relative to natural things,
and the fact is conclusive that our
| ignorance is much in excess of our un
derstanding. We understand some
| things: we have much more to learn.
| Our advantages are numerous, our dis
| advantages are more numerous. we
have extensive facilities for improve
| ment in knowledge, but the impress OF
| tradition, In many important educational
| and practical departments, very greatly
retard advancement and reform. Tn
fortunately the mass of the people re-
| gard ancestral teachings as sovereign
and familiar opinions are as dear as
| household pets. If an Independent
thinker has the tensity to deny this
sovereignty of aged impressions and
assert the contradiction principles of
right, tempest of persecution is hurled
at him, and if it were possible he would
| be made sentimental martyr.
| But there are men who establish re-
formations in spite of powers and
missiles. They break the force of
parental and public opinion; they defy
the powers of the false SCIENCE, and
deny the right of sovereignty to ancient
customs; they reason by force of cause
and effect, and set up new standards OF
science and empisicism /; they make
disciples by urging the claims Of newly
discovered truth, and the minds less
devoted to the sovereignty of traditions
and elderly customs embrace that which
manifests itself as reasonable, and es-
tablishes its truth by it's effect In 1875
no man of selfrespect will deny the
right of reformation, and refOrmatlons
are the lamp bearers to the world and
supply the light of increased knowledge
and better set of customs. When
| Unsuitable reformation is Instituted, the
more thoughtful and valorous in society
are ready to examine it's principles and
grant the right of it's claims, as theme
reformation finds no better field on the
globe for the assertion of it's rights than
| that of medicine. Since the days of
Hypocrates the world has been mer-
curialized, bled and bistered for ills and
accidents. Astonishing as it my seem
it is none the less true that in this age
OF improvement and reform that doctrine
! is plethoric in the American faith. But
it is t1-ate D1y feItooU cOataatry7,ae'a that
American ecicticism offers to the world
medical reform. Nor are its offers
UNDECIDED. Its agitations of medical
sentiment are felt in every State and the
waves of its influence have washed the
coasts of Europe, and softened the medi-
cal faith Of men whose influence has al
ready set up the standard of true en-
pirical science upon the motto, "Prove
all things and hold fast that which is
good" The doctrine of American elect
icism is actually planted in the soil of
European faith. Nor is the force Of
Eclecticism confined to its own school
but its sentiments are already in other
schools working out better, and mod
Grating the once rigid work of deple-
ton. The people are rapidly losing
faith in the practice of half numbering a
patient preparatory to convallscence.
The doctrine of Eclecticism is to relieve
pain as soon as possible hsband the
strength of the patient change the
state Of health by removing instructions
to physiological condition and feed
nature and let her assimalate the ap-
propriate elements to repair her organic
strength and regulate her vital functions.
We reject lead, mercury, anthony and
all other accumulative poisons that set
tie as foreign substances in the system.
''Eh and what does eclectic mean ?" is
still often asked. Although large, in
Huential and rapidly increasing profess
sion has been for about two score years
striving to teach the people the whole
some doctrines. yet there is another
portion of the profession who do not
know of its first principles, besides
large proportion of our population are
almost totally ignorant of the valuable
knowledge which is offered them by
near ten thousand intelligent medical
men of the United States. A complete
answer to the question has seldom been
offered, and concise one need not be
expected. Like many words of the
English language this one has more than
single meaning; etymologically the
word signifies selection, and discrip-
lively 1t means to choose. There is,
however, an extended import to this
word, as noun it distinguishes re-
spectacle class of physicians who be-
heve III progress and love liberty for the
sake of truth. and have built their pro-
fesslonal distinction upon the founda-
tlons laid by the Grecian philosophers
and physicians of the Eclectic School.
Secluslve philosophy can only arise from
dogmatical assumption, party sism's
and SECTIONAL llnes-fourish only in
sectariamism. There are no divisions.
neither are there any assumptions in all
natures domain. Consistency, har-
mony and unanimity, characterize the
realities OF life, and lie who would as
pire to perfection must sip inspiration
from the eternal fount of truth. In
order to study fright and avail our
selves Of most correct guidance, we
must free us entirely of every cucumber
ing theory-must lay aside the prevail
ent idea that prestage supports truth,
or that time honored dogmas necessari-
~ merit acceptance. Many of the most
reverend customs of the day furnish us
with examples. The true Eclectic
maintains his independence of all sects
and theories, adopts no rules of his own
chlnera and hence occupies untrammel-
ed the whole scope of reason. He dis