The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-19

lative operation. The ingenious 'doseist,
as Artemus Ward would say, has thories
about what is the matter with you; he
physics according to his theory, and then
physics TO correct his theory. This he
calls changing the treatment" Wrong
againl Try back; alter diet; then physic
away at the new diet. Wrong again.
Patient gets worse. Perhaps it is change
of air, not change of food he wants
bright idea. send him out of town. Off he
goes into the country; forgets to take his
physic; feels better; gets well;doctor looks
bland, mods his head and says: Told
YOU so; change of air-thats what you
wanted" What he really wanted waste
be let alone. Leave off worrying Nature
that is what is required; not in all cases
but in good many; and that is probably
what Majendie and Jenner and all the
wise doctors think. They aim at diet and
discipline-they assist they do not try to
force, Natures hand-and they every
now and then admit this in a burst OF con-
fidence.
There is another dubious side of the
question. Doctors often say to you, BE
sure YOU come to me at once. | can ar
rest disease,at an early stage; but delay
hesitatel hesitatel-and you are LOST
This is Just one of those dangerous half
truths where our doctors do suck no
small advantage. If you call the doctor
in for every little ailment, you will get
into an artificial state Nature will strike
work, and you will never be well without
the doctor-nor with him either. If you
always take opiates, you will never sleep
without them; or tonics, you will never
eat without them; or stiInnlants, you will
never work without them.
1t is law true in sociology and physics
alike that dependence grows by what 1t
feeds on. There are doctors who always
send people to bed directly they have a
little cold-and those people are forever
catching cold-they have no resistance
left. You are somewhat out OF order; III
stead of exercise and moderation, III
comes the doctor with his dose and, next
time, nature will refuse 10 have anything
to do with you. 81 am not going tC
trouble myself about you" she virtually
says. ''Scnd for the doctor; you prefer
his physic to my more slow, but more
sure and more healthy, recuperative
power. Take physic-I strike work. "
Not only do we often begin too soon
but we 90 on too long with the doctor
He calls and calls again; he refnes his
prescriptions until its gradations O
efficacy are quite imperceptible, but they
are just enough to keep nature in leading
strings and to make each step dependent
upon the therapeutic art.
OF course, | admit that there are many
cases to which these remarks are wholly
inapplicable Bronchitis, incipient cancer
and others, both functional and organic
to take these in time may be everything
There are cases where the diagnosis of ;
good physician is simply invaluable; hii
hints about food are not to be neglected
yet they should be taken, perhaps, cum
grano, and checked by personal expert
ence There arS cases, too, where cod
liver oil, quinine and one or two othe
drugs are absolute specifics. Who cal
not realize DIR. Livingstone's gloomy con
seriousness of having signed his own dealt
warrent when he determined to 60 for
ward after losing his medicine-chest o
quinine in the dismal river?