The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-05
TUE SCIENCE OFF MEDICINE.
DR.. Il. g. johnson Reviews G. Il. Ham
merton's Article on the Subject, in
Paper Read at Late Session OF
Olympus Chautauqua Circle.
Published by request of the circle.


Olympus Chautauqua Circle.
published by request of the circle)
have been asked by this circle to write
apaper in review OF the subject matter
contained in an article entitled Medical
Science" by G. L. Hammerton, published
in the Chautauquas for November.
Mr.. Hammerton commences his article
by saying: There has been steady pro-
gress toward complete harmony with the
natural laws which govern the human
body" and cooperation with nature is
now the cardinal principle of every true
physician" and that sit is perhaps libel
upon the medical profession OF the century
TO intimate that some other rule of prac-
tice obtained during the earlier decades"
Mr.. Hammerton is evidently not
medical man. If he be he is certainly not
we'll informed as TO the principles of prac-
iice which govern the rank and file of the
medical profession today. Neither does
he seem to be acquainted with the practice
which obtained during the earlier decades.
The theory of Corporation and COM
pIete harmony with nature and the
natural laws which govern the human
BODY II put into practice in the treatment
OF disease would completely revolutionize
the practice of medicine"
The period" in medicine will be "weii
rounded when the members of the medi-
Cal profession obtain wisdom enough to
understand that the one great source of
All knowledge and all science is nature.
ana that whatever is in harmony with
nature : laws must he true and absolute;
that al recorery from disease is due to the
ne properties an the body, and that death
ndtn"ees lHst "a proportion as these proper
t,'s are treoksaed. hence al efforts made By
tae frame 90 oFerc0sHe disease sho,sid be aided
aud strengthened, meter inter|ered Nth or
xeakrncd
When this period in medicine is reached,
king alcohol and the entire list of vege-
table, animal! and mineral poisons will be
swept away as SO many elements of de-
sGnction," as agents which ALWAYS
weaken and cripple" the life forces" and
thus are wholly incapable" of assisting
nature" in removing disease or "proloug-
ing life''
NJ. Hammerton says: The dreadful and
universal caloiael is the only drug in old
practice which we have all heard about"
IL lie woaid step into any leading drug
STORE where prescriptions are compounded
anu examine those on lie he would find
'aAt the dreadful and universal calomel
'hgdFGrg'1I caioridnnt mif,1 IN old practice
"hieh We have All heard about is in al
.'ost universal Use at the present time.
an3 sdd held 10 be among the indispensa-
''ss oy very large class of physicians.
" nat this writer says about anesthetics
tie pankiling agents used in surgical
o'FFAuonS-Is III the main correct. Not
So however, III regard TO what he has to
say ABOUT sntiSeptics. for Lawson TAFT. the
most successful living operator in abdom-
ma surgery, has demonstrated that moth
Mg Is needed but absolute cleanliness.
HH4rh he secures by thoroughly washing
"'e parts 10 be operated upon with soap
snd water. After this has oeen done Or.
AAit uses nothing but boiled water. not
using germlclGes al all.
Mr.. Hummerton tells us that the most
important results have been made IN the
'AeoTaioTy of the bacterioioEist, who has
gwen out The wonderful secret that all the
AIS that deSh IS heir 10 have their origin
10 The devastating work of countless min
a'e haciAi. winch !nhabit both ar and
water, and @hIca invade our poor bodies
aa prey upon the tissues.
Ihe tacli.t of cholera. yellow fever. scar
's' lever 2nd consumption have been dis
covered
As have never been believer IN the
Bug theory % disease, cannot indorse
reese statements The baei.ii, when
mGod. are always n result or product Of
a''eosc, - and 40. tie cause Of disease. and