New-York tribune., 1876-11-25

mutual criticism of character, although they
frankly admit that it Occasioned much spirit
ual suffering. The Oneida Pcrfectonistss
acknowledge their Indebtedness to Congrega-
tionalism for the invention of the habit, which
has long been strictly followed in their Com
munity. Only recently, however, have they
discovered the miraculous power of criticism
as a remedial agent in disease.
A claim which strikes at the roots Of all
physiological science of course necessitates new
laws. Accordingly, the author OF the work
says "The theory of disease which this remedy
"adapts itself to is, that disease originates not
Gin the blood, or stomach, or nerves, but in
"Me spirit; and that decisive operation
"there affects the whole system" Certainly:
nothing could be palmer. Now, let us see how
this "decisive operation is performed. We
are told that whenever man or woman is
attacked with any disease, he or she sends for
"a committee of persons" to come and cnt-
else. "The result. when administered sincerely,
ais almost universally to throw the patient
"into sweat, and to bring on reaction OF
"his life against disease" When diphtheria
made its appearance in the Oneida
Community, three of the first cases proved
fatal. The infection spread until 112
persons were attacked: then, the ravages of
the disease were suddenly arrested by Crit
cism-or, rather, by Criticism and Ice, although
we are not informed how the two were COM
bned. "An investigation showed that not
cone out of SO cases of clear diphtheria
"treated with ice and criticism, was LOST
One of the patients gives his testimony as
follows: Being no better at night, but rather
"wOrse, sent for a committee. Their crit.
"cism Immediately threw me into a profuse
"sweat, till felt as though had been In
bath and before the committee left the
Groom, my headache backache, and fever
"were all gone. The criticism had an edge
" to it, and literally separated me from the
esprit of disease that was upon me-"
If the new theory should be well founded,
we may soon expect to see the land covered
with societies for mutual healing. When a
man falls i'll he will not send for physician,
but for a committee of candid friends, who
will be only too happy to utter the unpleasant
truths which are forbidden by the convention
alisms of healthy society. Women will re-
cover first. on account of the sharper criti-
csm and the more immediate reaction.
Then, Messrs Stuart Robson and Bret Harte,
will write letters of gratitude for relief from
headache and indigestion. In fact many fea-
lures of our present society would be to-
tally reversed. Let Criticism once be
adopted as a curative agent, and "chi-
"dren will cry for it." The musical,
artistic, or literary genius, who now, in igno-
rance of his nature, writhes at the words
which doubt his perfect performance, will read
them over and over with eyes moist with hope
and body dripping with perspiration. Who
shall say, indeed, that Upper has not long
ago discovered the secret7 What else gives
him such hale and sparkling old age, and
such imperturbabe serenity of mindH The
German author, Immermann, in his Munch-
hausen,n makes one of the characters, who
yearns for total candOr of speech, exclaim:
"Will the day never come when the German
"man may say to his German brother: %,
&" thou ASST" Verify, the day may come, If
the Oneida "PerfectiOnists" are right, when
such epithets shall be prescribed in place OF
pills and other detergents,- when the private
opinion, which we now so carefully conceal
through fear of exasperating our brother, shall
be joyously hurled in his teeth as our nearest
Christian duty.
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