The Hartford herald., 1879-07-02
A LEARNED
MEDICAL LECTURE!
Delivered in the Wesleyan Hall,
Boston, on the 30th Of
March, 1873, r ..
BY DR.. d. w. Fairchild, of New
York City.

FRIENDS: You have not been invited here
TO be treated TO an intellectual repast. 1t Is
not my object to utter an unkind word where
il is not deserved, or to traduce character, or
TO wander into any extravagant statements not
susceptible OF proof If know my own
heart, am here to tell you, in as plain and
simple a manner as l am capable, series OF
facts full Of wonder and astonishment, and
endeavor to make you better acquainted with
yourselves; also to learn the direct cause OF
nearly all the diseases man is heir to, and how
simple and inc expensive a mode there is TOR
YOU not only to prevent, but to cure the same.
The question will be treated seriously and
fairly, as it deserves. And, right here, | will
take the occasion to say no man has higher
regard or more thorough veneration for
THE CONSCIENTIOUS FAMILY PHYSICIAN
than l. Such a man is entirely void of sell
hshness and prejudice. He is a constant stu
dent. He keeps pace with every fresh thought
advanced; puts into practice most willingly as
an auxiliary anything that proves itself better
than he has yet known. AT least, he never
condemns short of a thorough investigation.
Such men are sometimes found. They deserve
the confidence, love and respect of all who
know them. Such man will tell you the
best of them are cropping about in the dark ;
The principle Of antidotes las proved un-
satisfactory-yea, a failure. A. II. Stevens,
NJ. d., says: "The older physicians grow,
the more skeptical they become in the virtue
of their own medicine" Professor Willard
Parker says: "Of all sciences, medicine is
the most uncertain" Prof. Z. II. Davis:
"THE VITAL EFFECTS OF MEDICINE
are little understood" ]. Mason Good, NJ.
D.: "The science of medicine is a barbarous
jargon." DIR. Bostwick, author of History
Of Medicine - Every dose of medicine is
blind experiment" Prof. Evans, NJ. d.:
1.-The medical practice of the present day is
neither philosophy nor common sense" Prof.
Gregory: "Gentlemen, ninety -one medical facts
are medical lies." McLintock: mercury
has made more criples than all the wars CON-
bined." And he should have added, the
present abuse of soda or POTASH, in its present
various forms, is destroying myriads of stom-
achs beyond redemption. Sir Ashley Cooper:
'sThe science of medicine is founded on con-
lecture and improved by murder" Oliver
Wendell Holmes said before a medical class
in the year 1861: Z" The disgrace of medicine
has been that colossal system of self decep-
ton, in obedience to which mines have been
emptied of the cankering minerals. the veg
etable kingdom robbed Of all its growth, the
entrails of animals taxed for their impurities,
the poison bags of reptiles drained of their
venom, and all the conceivable denominations
thus obtained thrust down the throatS of hui
man beings suffering from some fault of organ
ization, nourishment, or vital stimulation u
Thus might enlarge to the extent of volumes,
in quoting the long list Of physicians strict
ures on themselves, in which they tell you
that medical science, thus far, is not only NOT
beneficial, but absolutely injurious and killing
in
Notwithstanding all this, custom and early
education ever hold wonderful power over
us, and it matters not however unreasonable
and absurd any teachings and customs OF
habits may seem to us, or how demonstrably
it may have been proved to us that they are
injurious and fallacious. Yet il would seem
that nothing short of long years of bitter ex.
periences, or some sudden, mighty power, will
ever change the course of most of US from i'm
pressions made through early education and
example. Yes, we are slaves ? habit, custom
and fashion. There is usually wonderful
lack of individuality. For example: We are
used to our doctor; we see him daily; we rel,
upon him; take his medicines, poisons ant
otherwise; pay his bills; gradually grow
worse do no thinking or acting for ourselves
finally die--and the friends charge it to dis
pensation of Providence. Less than thirty-fivs
years ago millions up to that period had gon,
down to their graves begging for even one
swallow of cold water. Mothers, sisters
brothers, and the fond lover had each in the
turn withheld from the dear one this preciou
and most natural antidote. This, too, wher
it was apparent that life could hold on but
few short hours at most. Doctors said II
those days: e lfa i'niai'1al iil a'at
"coLp WATER is DEATH; b.
give them calomel and spoonful of warn
water, instead" These loving friends wer
made the willing instruments, through earl,
education, to obey literally the doctors com
mapd. Not only was the fever patient denie,
water, but was drugged, physicked, bled an,
starved until all reactive power was lost, ant
he gave up the ghost to the treatment insteat
Of the disease. s7. .s.1 -ai -I r
doubt not there are numbers here to-nigh
who know this statement to be true. But to
day the patient gets ice-water in superabun
dance. And why this radical change of anti
dotesi II FIRE was once the antidote of fire
why should water now be the antidote o
fever href Simply for the reason that natur,
always revolts against any system that lacks
supply Of natures natural wants, or that i
cruel to itself. In every neighborhood, NOR,
or less, there were found persons of strong
will power that decided they would not dis
until they had satisfied that intense thirst, and
allayed the fire that was burning them up.
Many interesting experiences have beer
told of what these creatures in torment passed
through to get water. My own uncle, foI
death. A trusty old colored man, his watch
man, was called to his bed about midnight
Speaking just above a whisper, he said
"Abe, I am going to ask of you one last re-