The Portland daily press., 1880-09-02
Household Practice of Medicine"

1t is said that man who IS his own lawyer
has fool for a client, and heretofore the same
might be almost said as true in medicine as in
law; for even the best educated formerly had
very vague ideas concerning the causes and
treatment of diseases. Many books have been
written upon the domestic practice of medicine
and these have had large sale, especially in
the rural districts where doctors are few and
far between. Nearly a century ago DR.. Bu-
chan Of Scotland prepared handbook for the
use of families and thirty years. since DIR. Ira
Warren of Boston,, wrote a similar work
this last is found in hundreds of New England
families where it is still consulted at an oracle.
Or: Warren book was. written. dt a time
when large doses Of powerful drugs were the
rule and when the lancet drained the blood
which the fever stricken patient could not
afford to lose. Since then there has been such
revolution in the means and methods OF
treatment that this work and others likeait
have become not only obsolete but actually
dangerous, for the most potent drugs like
calomel, antimony, belladonna, opium, &c.,
were here recommended in quantities that
would astound the most liberal modern phys-
clan. The system in vogue half century
are now treated upon very different principles.
Nowadays the 'cod is not to be stuffed" or
the "fever starved" but rather the reverse,
and any respectable practitioner will testify
the following of these ancient lights by the
people not only increases his business but COM
plicates his duties, as he has both, the disease
and the overdose of wrong medicine to con-
tend with. Until recently it has not been con-
sidered expedient by physicians to attempt to
refute the errors of the old books or to popu-
larize medical knowledge. It seemd impossi-
Die to write instructions as to the treatment of
disease that would be understood by those who
know little OF anatomy or physiology
the foundation stones of medical
science. Of late years however, the
subjects oflpreventive medicine as it is called,
and of hygiene and sanitary science have
largely occupied the attention of physicians
and intelligent men everywhere, and "a far
better insight into the causes of disease has
been gained, while physicians have been doing
missionary work by teaching the public to un-
derstand and avoid these causes. 1t is there.
fore desirable that the public should also know
more Of the diseases themselves and their
rational treatment. To meet this want w.
Wood & Co., the eminent publishers of New
York, have published a comprehensive work |
upon an entirely new plan. The services of |
great number of competent medical men have |
been secured, men who are not only well |
known as successful practitioners, but as ex-
perts upon the subjects of which they have |
written. These gentlemen have, coniointly |
prepared an elaborate cyclopsedia Of practical |
ND o1on4 i II.
household. In it every disease likely to occur
is accurately described and the best modern |
treatment given. large space is devoted to /
accidents and emergencies of all kinds, and |
clear directions are given for meet them |
promptly. In short in all cases where imme- |
dlate assistance is demanded or where physi- |
clau IS not accessible, any intelligent person |
may save the patient unnecessary suffering, and |
perhaps even life itself, by applying the plain
directions given in this work. Especial atten-
lion Is paid to the diseases of children, and the
pest uses OF ordinary domestic medicines are /
clearly. indicated. 1t is only necessary to add |
that the work is invaluable to the business
man and the president of the city. as |
well as to the farmer and the resi-
dent of the village and the hamlet
this work is sufficient guarantee of its great
value, comprising as it does such names as
Parvin OF Indiana, President of the American
Medical Association; Dunglinson and Harts-
horn OF Philadelphia; Beverly Robinson,
Mary Putnam jacob, Roosa. Buck, Loomis
and Keyes and many others of New York, the
Crosbys of New Hanpshire, Hodgen of St.
Louis &c. &c.
The work is elegantly illustrated with cuts
especially prepared for the purpose which are
introduced whenever they can aid the reader
IN understanding the written description. The
chapters upon fractures and dislocations are
rich in cuts which will prove Of great service
IN the application of splints and bandages 1t
should also be stated that the authors have as
far as possible avoided the use of technicalities
ana scientific terms so that .'he who runs NAV |
read'' ana understand.
An authorized representative of the Publish
ers is about to afford our citizens an opportun-
ity for the inspection and purchase of this val
liable work