The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-27

ence in the reduction of the nervous trou-
bles in young persons. The prophylsctic
benefit of systematic exercise. taken In
moderation by persons of middle age. Is
very great. Golf and the bicycle have in
! the past few years materially lowered the
| average incomes OF the doctors of this
| country as derived from persons under
forty. From the senile contingent-those
above this age-the average income has
for time been raised by these exercises.
as large number of persons have been
injured by taking up sports which may
be vigorously pursued with safety only by
those with young arteries.
OF three departures in the art OF heal
ing brief mention may be made The use
of the extracts of certain organs Tor of
the organs themselves) in disease is as
old as the days of the Romans, but an
extraordinary impetus has been given to
the subject by the discovery OF the cura-
tive powers of the extract of the thyroid
gland in the diseases known as creeiuism
and myxoeGema. The brilliancy % the re-
suits in these diseases has had no paral-
lei in the history OF modern medicine. but
1t cannot be said that in the use of tae
extracts of other organs for disease the
results have fulfilled the sanguine expec-
tations of many. There was not, in the
first place. the same physiological basis,
and practitioners have used these extracts
too indiscriminately and without sufficient
knowledge OF the subject.
Secondly. as l have already mentioned.
we possess sure and certain hope that
for many of the acute infections anti
toxins will be found.
A third noteworthy feature In modern
treatment has been a return TO psychical
methods of cure. In which faith in some
thing is suggested 70 the patient. After
all. faith is the great lever of life. With
out it man can do nothing; with It, even
seed. all things are possible tn him.
Faith in us, faith in our drugs and meth
DDS is the great stock in trade of the pro-
fession. In one pan of the balance put the
pharmacopoeias OF the world, all the edi-
lions from Dioscord;des to the last issue
of the United States Dispensatory;" heap
them on the scales as did Euripides his
books in the celebrated contest in the
Frogs" in the other put the simple faith
With which from the days of the Pharaohs
until now the children of men have swat
lowed the mixtures these works describe
and the bulky tones will kick the beam
1t is the aurum potable. the touchstone
Of success in medicine. As Galen says
confidence and hope do more good than
physic-"he cures most In whom most
are confident" That strange compound OF
charlatan and philosopher. Paraceisus,
faith. a strong Imagination. and they shall
find the effects" (Burton}. While we Of
ten overlook or are ignorant of orr own
faith cures, doctors are just wee bit too
sensitive about those performed outside
our ranks. They have never had, and can
not expect to have. monopoly in this
panacea. which is open to all, free as the
sun. and which may make of everyone
In certain cases, as was the Lseedemon of
Homer's day, "a good physician out of
Natures grace" Faith in the gods or
in the saints cures one. faith IL little pills
another. hypnotic suggestion a third,
faith in plain. common doctor a fourth.
In all ages the prayer of faith has healed
the sick. and the mental attitude of the
suppliant seems to be of more consequence
than the powers to which the prayer is
The cures in the temples OF
the miracles of the saints.
the remarkable cures Of those noble men.
the Jesuit missionaries in this country.
the modern miracles at Lourdes. and at
st. Anne de Beaupre in Quebec, and the
wonder-workings of the so-called Chris /
,ian Scientists. are often genuine and must
be considered in discussing the founda-
lions of therapeutics. We physicians use !
the same power every day. If poor lass,
paralyzed apparently. helpless. bed-ridden |
for years, comes to me, having worn out |
N mind body. and estate a devoted family, |
If she In a few weeks or less by faith in |
me, and faith alone. takes up her bed and |
walks, the saints of old could not have !
done more. ST. Anne and many others
can scarcely today do less We enjoy. l /
say. no monopoly in the faith business
The faith with which we work, the faith.
indeed, which Is available today in every
day life, has its limitations. Ii will not