Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-31
AN INVALUABLE MANUSCRIPT


AN INVALUABLE MANUSCRIPT
Druids and ovates Had knowledge
Of the Science of Healing
and Surgery.
By WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record-Herald.
BANGOR, Wales. October a, 1905.
For several years that eminent American
chemist, Henry 8. Welcome, native OF
Minnesota and founder of the firm of Bur
roughs & Welcome, London, has been
engaged In making collection OF books.
manuscripts, instruments and all kinds or
appliances connected with the practice of
medicine from the earliest times. 1t Is
his intention to give an exhibition one
Of these days and ultimately to found
a permanent museum and library IN
London in reciprocation for the numerous
honors conferred upon him by the medical
professor Of Great Britain, which has
demonstrated its confidence In him on
many occasions and always given MIN
an earnest and loyal support IN his re-
searches and experiments. He has PROB
ably contributed more to the science of
healing than any other pharmacist on
this side Of the great waters at least
And his inventions and discoveries have
been productive Of great practical good.
This is particularly true of the results
of the laboratories he has founded and
maintained In connection with Gordon
College at Khartum and the expiora-
lions that have been made on the seve
eral branches of the Nile by staff of
botanists and bacteriologists. which ne
organized and has maintained upon
steamer furnished by the British gov
! eminent. The third annual report OF
| these explorations and Investigations now
in press will contain much new and valu-
able information for the benefit OF
medical science. DR.. Balfour, who mas
immediate charge of the Welcome labor
atories and expeditions, is now spend
| ing a short vacation in London, but will
| return to Khartum the first OF the
month.
Wales Advanced in Medical Science.
Mr. Welcome tells me that he has
found that the science of medicine was
| farther advanced and was freer from the
| influence Of superstition in Wales In an
/
ain and other European countries. Medi-
| cines were prepared with Z greater
knowledge of their properties and effects,
with better care and attention. and were
| applied with higher degree of lntelll-
gence than elsewhere. There were better
attempts at diagnosis to ascertain symp-
toms of disease and to trace the causes
| before commencing treatment In Wales
than in most other countries.
Before being allowed to practice his pro-
| fesson the young medical man In Wales
| In the earliest times was expected to sub
NIT to an examination as to his training
| and capacity. $50 that he may be skilled
| in the judgment and science of the wise
and skillful physicians who have preceded
HIM The rules and axioms laid down
| for the guidance of practitioners in Wales
| prove that the early Cambrian fathers OF
medicine were thoughtful and conscien-
| tious men, with lofty ideals as to their
profession, and that their knowledge was
| far in advance Of their times.
| For many years., said Mr.. Welcome,
| Il have been engaged In researches re-
speeding the early methods employed in
| the healing arts. both among civilized
and uncivilized peoples 1t has been my
/ object in particular, to trace the origin
| of the use Of given medicines and the
reasons for their use; to ascertain whether
| the adoption of certain remedies and anti
dotes for ceptain diseases was accidental
] or the result of study and practical OBJ
| servation Of cause and effect, and to as
| certain whether the faith in the efficacy
| of certain plants and herbs was purely
| imaginary or was based upon actual
knowledge and experience.
Valuable Information in Folklore.
| There is a great deal of valuable in
formation concealed in the folklore of
primitive peoples. particularly that which
concerns the agencies that influence hui
man action. I have learned great deal
| from that source I have been able to
collect a large number of early manu-
| scripts bearing upon the art of healing,
| and have an exceedingly interesting col
! lection of ancient books. some of the very
! first that were ever printed. and l may
| say that next to geography and the Holy
| Scriptures medicine received the first
| attention of the printers. l hope to ex-
| hibit my collection OF medical. chemical
| and pharmaceutical works and objects of
| historical and professional interest in a
few years. and I am confident that they
| will lead to the revealing of facts of in
terest and importance that have been
overlooked or forgotten, and elucidate
many obscure points in connection with
| the origin of various remedies and meth
| DDS Of treatment.
| Yes, 1t is true that the science Of medi-
/ cine received very early and intelligent
attention In Wales, and its early history
| In that country Is of absorbing interest.
| Apparently little attention has been paid
| to this 1act, ana little lnfOrmatlOn mas
been collected on the subject, but / have
been fortunate enough to get hold of
| some fascinating manuscripts and have
been amply rewarded for my researches
| here.
Ancients Doctored Body and Soul.
! II am able to demonstrate that medicine
was regularly practiced in Cymry a
! thousand years before the Christian era
before there were cities or even a SOW
ereignty. In that early period priests.
medical men and boards held the highest
rank among the people, and were looked
| upon as the chief sources of knowledge
| and wisdom. AS among other peoples
| in the days of breaking light: the same
men combined the offices of healing the
body and the soul. of looking after both
| the physical and the spiritual welfare Of
developed by them were astronomy. the
! ology and medical botany, and the reme-
| dies they applied to the sick were mainly
| herbs
1.-THE Druids were especially proficient in
| mystic and religious rites; the bards in
history, poetry and oratory. and the
| Ovates in the natural sciences. As early
| as the year 43O B. c., before the time of
| Hippocrates, a code of laws prepared by
| Dyvnwal Moelmud shows that the science
| of medicine was protected and encouraged
by the state. Medicine, commerce and
! navigation are called the three civil
| arts and We are told that each had
certain corporate privileges by the grant
! and creation of the Lord of the Terri
tory. authenticated by the judicature and