The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-05


pause.
Dr. Preston sail: Fellows Of the Med
ical Society of Virginia: In accordapc
with time -honorei custom. IT become
my duty 20 deliver the annual prcsiden
tial address. Would that | could, Will
eloquent tongue, and with words OF wis
dom. PERFORM this duty in maine
worthy this occasion. and in accordance
with my own desires and ambition eve
TO do honor to this society. Would, too
that / could adequately express m.
gratitude to YOU. fellows of the Virginia
Medical Society. and repay in some sraal
degree the best | owe for the high homo
conferred upon me at your last meeting
I'm the city of Richmond. I feel as
said then. that | was doully honorcd
conferred as was, by unanimous voice
in that beautiful city on the James. IN,
capital of our beloved Commonwealth
around which cluster SO mary sacred
memories. and in front Of whose walls
and I'm whose defence ! had given N
by-gone days some of the best years OF
my hfe-conferrod as ii was in tina
loved Mecca of a lost cause"-a cause
which though buried forever in wind
ing-sheet of glory. is yet hallowed IN
every true Southern breast by the mem
DRY of fallen heroes, our brothers, and our
sires In giving oppression 10 sucf
sentiments common to us all in thig
beautiful Southland, | feel that we SUI
render not one iota of that loyalty, and
that devotion felt by us all for our cont
mon reunited country-a loyalty which
20 he proved. needs only the CpTorturi-
ty offered, the danger threatened, when
the Southern soldier. as in the past, Will
leap TO the common defer &c with a zeal
superior. 10 any other section of this
broad land.
Tray be pGrdt ned, too. in expressing
my qualification at meeting you, and pre-
siding over your deliberations here to-
day. in this beautiful city. the Saratoga
of the South.
The BEAUTIFUL SOUTHWEST.
Here. in my native Southwest lard.
with her iron and coal-clad mountains,
her beautiful hills and valleys, her
health-giving climate, her healing waters
gushing from rivulet and fountain. 1
gladly meet you here to-day, and espe-
cially would we emphasize our greet
ings to these disting lished visitors from
other States, some of them returning
sons Of the Old Dominion. coming 20 do
honor 10 their mother State.
But, not TO digress further, l am re-
minded and admonished by the illus
trious examples of worthy predecessors
I'm this office that | must address this
learned and scientific society upon some
medical subject. What this subject
should be- has caused M many anxious
thoughts and harassing fears, so thor
oughly has the field been CLEANED, and so
plentoous "A harvest gairered in by those
worthy fellows who have gone before
me, and who have honcre1 this office
and your society by their valued produce
tions.
Craving your patience, however ana
your indulgent forbeararce. | shall en-
deavor to discuss briefly before you at
this time the subject OF Mental, Moral
and HYGIENE Therapeutics" in relation
10 the early home life and TO general
practice. Apart from the professional
interest always manifested in these and
kindred subjects pertaining to the gene
raj good, | congratulate myself that 1
shall have in the subject selected the
sympathetic interest of the laity. of all
intelligent ladies and gentlemen, espe-
cially the ladies, who are ever alive to
everything locking to the good of the
human race, and TO the higher develop
ment of mankind. along mental, moral.
AMI spiritual lines. In all the intimate
reations and co-relations between nina
and matter. between mental operations
and bodily functions. it will readily be
seen how vast a field for thought is here
presented, from which l can only hope
to present a few isolated facts and to
draw only a few useful lessons.
The domain OF therapeutics is a broad
one, and must not be limited TO the
mere giving of drugs but must embrace
all flpCa Influences of
jcctive and objective. calculated 10 tell
for veal or woe In each Individual case.
THE MNDyN's BLUsH.
Familiar illustrations Of the influence
of mental Impressions over bodily func-
tons are common in everyday life as
witnessed in the blush of the maiden's
check, the pallor of the face from sud-
den fear the stopping OF the heartbeat
from mental shock. the CELEBRATING.
influence Of joy and gladness,
and the detecting, dispiriting effect OF
grief and gloom.
The powerful influence of confidence in
the cure and prevention of disease was
well understood and recognized by the
sages of antiquity. They tell us That
IN many cases by affording encourage
meEt and confidence TO a detected pa
tient, end serenity TO his mind, whether
by the aid of reason or the influence
of superstition. much benefit may arise;
for tho salutary and curative effects OF
nature IN such a state of mind are much
more likely TO succeed"
The cure and warding OF OF disease
was ascribed by the Druds ana sootn-
sayers of old TO the mystic properties OF
the coral. and of the roam tree or MOI H.
tain ash Galen complained that his
patients were more obediCnt 10 the ora
Gle in the temple OF Aesculapius or TO
their own dreams than they were TO his
and the old Romans IN
times of pestilence. elected a dictator
with great solemnity for the sole pur-
pose OF driving nail In the wall of
the temple of Jupiter. The effect was
instantaneous, and while they thus mag
ined that they propitiated an offended
deity. they In truth did but diminish
the susceptibility TO disease by appeas-
ing their own fears"
Even at the present day. there are not
examples OF this kind How
many do we meet who attribute virtues
in the healing and warding on Of disease
to the mystic properties of the buck
eye. the goose bone. the rabbits foot. to
say nothing of the various faith cures.
Keely cures. &c, that have their day
and flourish for time. But II is TO tae
legitimate influence of mind over matter.
Of mental operations over bodily func-
tons. that | desire chiefly to call your
attention; the proper adaptation OF cir
and surroundings to the
mo st favorable development of the good,
and the eradication of the eva IN men,
tai. moral. and physical natures, both IN
health and disease. constitutes an i'm
portant sphere in the work OF parent,
teacher. and physician. The conditions
human environment. as air,