Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-03-03
a DOSE rox THE DOCTORS,
Some FungeMt Remarks Concerning
Scientific Medicine"

gent and interesting correspondent at
Winthrop, shakespeare" (the prin-
ter should leave out one e), in the
BULLETIN of Feb. IL, treats quite
largely upon medicines. With some
of his views l agree, but from some
others l would like space in your
paper respectfully to dissent. In
that article he uses the following
language:
Ann Arbor is not exempt from the
application of these conditions, and is al
ready doomed to a more gradual ruin by
admitting to its faculy disciple of one of
the many 'pathys,' that dspend solely up
on a deceioed portion Of the public for
recognition md support. Scientific med
icine does not depend upon, or ask State
support, as the action of the State society
proves"
The context shows that by the term
scientific medicine" is meant the
old school, or Allopathy. Now, is it
not misleading to assert that this
"pathy" does not ask State support,
and take credit for it, when the fact
is, it has regularly asked State aid of
every Legislature from the organiza-
ton of the State medical school till
now, without the shadow of protest
from the now virtuous Allopaths.
What has converted them? moth
ing but the fact that another "pathy"
had won so high a place in public es-
TEEN that it would have received a
part of the State aid, and the Homeo-
paths would have chair right be-
side the Allopaths; and rather than
thus bring its hoary errors into close
comparison with the more modern
system, the Allopaths "say to the
lawmakers that they are not in favor
of appropriating money to any medi-
cal school," Modest, isn't it? The
Allopaths have had all of the State
aid for many years; now it comes the
turn of the Homeopaths, and the All
opaths are suddenly opposed to all
State aid. To be entitled to respect,
the State Medical Society should
have put themselves on record about
like this: Resolced, That the Allo-
paths having received State aid for
twenty years, should now retire and
give the other "paths" the same
chance according to their numbers,
and when fair distribution has been
made all around, we care not in favor
of appropriating more money to any
medical school.
That the Homeopaths Or Hydro
paths or Eclectro-paths would have
been more generous if either had
happened to get its finger on the leg
lslature than the Allopaths are, l am
not prepared to assert.
"Shakspearc's" bl Dad ground that
all the "pathys" but Allopathy ode
pend upon a deceived portion of the
public for recognition and support"
is really unaccountable IN view of
the present status of medical prac-
tice. How is it, DR.. Tabor and DR..
Brewer, and DR.. Guilbert Of Du-
buque, and the ten thousand sue
cessful Homeopaths and Eclectlcs
throughout the world? Is it true
that those who employ them don't
know whether they are benefited by
them or not?
Still more must / differ with
"Shakspeare" when he calls A.lo-
pathy "scientifc medicine" as dis
tinguished from the other "pathys."
l want to say few words about this
"scientifc medicine" and its works.
At the age of ten years, the writer
hereof was sliced with wha, the doc
tors called IN those days typhus fe-
yer. The doctor (Allopath) cane,
timed my pulse accurately by his
watch, and gave me a big dose of
"calomel and iallup." l remember
distinctly how it tormented and grip
ed me. Next day he came again,
timed my pulse with exceeding care,
pronounced me worse, and ordered
more calomel and jallup with other
medicines | doa't remember because
they gave me no particular pain).-
The third day he came, timed my
pulse, pronounced me very sick, and
proceeded to bleed me. When he
had got halt bowl of blood, | faint
ed away. The flow was stopped, l
was sponged and famed back to life,
Gradually the wound was reopened
and he got the quantity Of blood his
books dictated, and went home salts
fed. After that he came twice n
day. | soon became insenslble, but
the doctor went on with a treatment
as heroic as my strength would allow
for three months, during which time
he treated me for inflammation of the
bowels, induced by his terrible pur-
gatives, and other collateral ailments
resulting from the unnatural tor,
ments to which he subjected my poor
frame. My most agonizing appeals
for water were answered by enc tea-
spoonful an hour. He blistered my
head, breast and ankles-nine large
blisters at one time had upon me,
the honorable scars of which / shall
always wear to remind me what a
beautiful thing is scientific medi-
cine" for my doctor was a graduate
of an old school medical college
perfectly regular, and had an a No.
l diploma.
He was a conscientious man, and
at the end of three months, having
lost faith IN his own treatment, he
declared me beyond his help, and left
me to die. | did not die, however,
but lett my bed with a broken consti,
tuition, and have never seen well
day since.
There were no doctors but Allo-
paths then. That fall "typhus" fever
prevailed among children, the great
majority Of whom persisted in the
hands of the doctors. 1t is claimed
that Allopathy is three or four thou
sand years old. Now, if 5000 years
practice of scientific medicine" re-
suits in drastic purging, bleeding,
blistering, denying the patient water
and all refreshments he Graves, how
many million years practice will it
rpnuiro uuiufjIouccd bv the other