The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-12-13
TALES FOR DOCTORS.
MARVELLOUS MEDICAL SUPERSTI-
TIONS OF THE MIDDLE AGES.

Curious Old BooBs-A Gambler Turned
Ouack-NIonumentaI Credulity of the
Parisians Many Years Ago.
Some industrious calculator has discovered
that there are incident, or at least possible,
to human life no less than 2,40O distinct dis
orders with which the physician must con
tend. In the midst Of such an array Of enc
mics nature contends Nature" says
French philosopher lis fighting with disease;
a blind man armed with a Club-that Is, the
physician-ccmes to settle the difference. He
first tries to make peace, and when NE cannot
do this he lifts his club and strikes at random
If he strikes the disease he kills II; if he
strikes nature he kills the patient That may
be an uncertain sort of philosophy, but II IS
borne out by Napoleon, who once said TO one
of his court physicians: Believe me we had
better leave off these remedies. Lie is a
fortress that neither you nor I know anything
about. Why throw obstacles in the way of
its defence! It's own means are superior TO
all the apparatus of your laboratories. Med
icine is a collection of uncertain prescriptions,
the results of which, taken collectively, are
more fatal than useful to mankind"
MEDICAL BOOKS AND PRESCRIPTIONS.
Sir Thomas Browne spends considerable
time in disprOving a common error OF his
time: that healing and the mysteries OF Inedl-
cine were a gift bestowed with coronation
upon ROYALTY. This idea seems to have been
very generally held. In 1910 a book was pub
lished entitled, The Queenes Closet Opened:
or divers things necessary to be knowlIe col
lected out of sundry books, Ode written, and
now brOte into one order. The several things
herein contained may be seen il the bOOkes
and tables fOllOwinge written in the yeare
of our LOrde God, 16lO.'
The titles of the books were: First 4
coppye Of all such medicines wherewith ye
noble Countesse of OXenforde, most charit-
able, in her owne persone, did mayno create
and notable cures upon poor neighbours"
The second book is entitled: Here beginneth
a true coppye of such medicines wherewith
Mistress Johan Ounstead, daughter unto the
wOrshipfule Mr. John OunstCad, alderman Of
London, hath cured many forlOrne and dead
lie diseases" a sample of che prescriptions
is as follows: "TO cure freckles, take the
blOude of a hare, annOynte them with 1t, and
it will doe them away" And another: For
forgetting and weakeninge of the understand
ing If the hearte, eye, or brayne of a black
plover be hanged about a mans neck, it is
profitable agaynSte fOrgetfulnesse and
sharpeth mans understandings" The book
also contains a score of prescriptions against
Iovesickness, and innumerable philters and
love charms.
In the year 1916 a doctor Travelled over
Germany who called himself the "Rainwater
Doctor" His remedy for all diseases was
this one cure, either applied or taken inwaTdly
Wonderful cures were wrought, we are told,
and multitudes 1ocked after him to be healed
\ GAMBLER TURNED QUACK.
Sanders has story of a most notorious
gambler of Paris named Mantacinni who,
having squandered all his fortune, sought to
retrieve his losses by turning quack. He
started his carriage, and made tours of the
country, pOmpOusly protesting to effect cures
of all diseases with a single touch, OF even a
look Failing in this he essayed a holder
claim. that of raising the dead at VIII. To
remove all doubt he announced that in a GER
tain city he would in fifteen days go to the
churchyard and call to life all the dead,
though they had been buried for years This,
of course, excited general murmur against
him, but he at once went to the magistrate
and asked to be put under a strict guard and
held, to prevent his escape until he had made
good his claim. This inspired the greatest
confidence, and the whole city came TO con
suit the mighty savant and to buy his eau de
vie His consultations were numerous, and
he received tremendous fees. At length, as
the day drew near, his confederate, who was
attired as his valet, expressed his fear, and
suggested an attempt at escape. The 'doctOr'
SHRUGGED his shoulders and said: you do
spoken when a servant brought a letter from
a prominent citizen saying: Sir, tho great
operation you are about to perform has broken
my rest and made my life a burden. l have
a wife buried for some years, who was a
fury, and I am unhappy enough in her
memory without her resurrection. In the
name Of heaven, do not make the experiment,
which have every reason to believe will be
a success. ] viii give you fifty louis if
YOU will keep your secret to yourself"
Soon after two dashiag beaux arrived, who
besought him to desist. Their father had
been the greatest miser in the city, and if he
were to return they would be reduced from
the swell Of their afIiuence TO paupery They
offered him a fee of 100 louis, but tho doctor
shook his head in doubtful compliance. I'm
rnediately came a young widow on the eve OF
Inatrimony, who threw herself at the feet Of
the uuack, and with sObs besOught him to de
sist From morning until night fees poured
in. and letters and messengers besought hin
to desist The whole city was in confusion
50 that the mayor came and said: Sir,
! have not the least doubt, from my experience
Of your rare and wonderful talents, that yot
will accomplish easily the resurrection in on
churchyard the day after TOMORROW, accord
ing to your promise. But, Iipray you, SEE
how our whole city is in confusion. You
experiment must prove Il dreadful revolution
/ i'm every family. I entreat you, therefore
not to attempt it. but 90 your way and re
store TRANQUILITY 10 tho city. In justice, how
| ever to your rare talents, I shall give you
J parchment, under the seal Of the city, testify
/ ing that you can raise the dead, and that
I vas our own fault that we were not eye wit
/ nesses Of your power" And the certhcat
/ Mautaciuni did receive, and went back 4
J Paris loaded down with gold a result o
/ the creduIity and superstition Of his victims
/ Chicago Herald.