Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-05-18
HISTORY OF MEDICINE
u. S. National Museum Exhibit
Shows Old Remedies.
Disease Once Believed TO he Action Of
NInIevOIcnt spirit and Allied with
Sorcery. witchcraft and
CoDjury.

An exhibit pertaining to medicine ana
its history is located on the north gallery
of the east court of the National Mu-
scum building devoted to American
| History and Industrial arts. According
to its many descriptive and instructive
labels, the theory of disease seems to-
have been studied from time imme-
mortal and attributed to many and
diverse causes. In primitive times dis
ease was held to be malevolent spirit
assuming animate or inanimate ma
| terial form and attacking the victim
either with or without provocation.
Some of the savage and half-civilized
| tribes believed that this spirit acted
at the suggestion of human enemies
| possessed of supernatural powers, thus
| allying IL with sorcery. witchcraft and
! conjury, although other tribes supposed
that disease was caused by offended
spirits Of the dead
| Egyptian medicine is the earliest OF
which We have written record; it
dates as far back as 1850 p. c. In it's
prehistoric stage 1t was doubtless found
ed on superstition and practiced by
magic arts. but in its earliest historic
period. the sick were taken to the mar
kot place where all who passed by and
| had suffered seen n similar malady
might lend their advice Later more
orderly systems were evolved for the
treatment of the sick Iicrodotus being
prominent in the reforms. but Egyptian
medicine vanished before the Greek sys-
TEN soon after the admission of the
Greeks into Egypt in the latter part of
the 4th century Il. C.
Greek medicine in its primitive period
is mostly mythical. beginning with
Melampus in about 400 e. c. and end
ing with Hippocrates 400 b. c. The
most prominent character was Aescu-
lapius. reputed son of Apollo and Coro-
mis-, and worshped as the god of medi-
cine by both Greeks and Romans. The
philosophic period began with the doc
trnes of IIippocratcs believed to be the
18th in descent from Aesculapius, and
known as the father OF medicine; he
separated medicine from priestcraft.
abolished charms, lamentations and all
forms Of mysticism and pretense, teach
ing that disease was "A process governed
by natural laws and yielding to treat
ments found by studying the symptoms.
y copy of the fiippocratic oath sworn TO
by all the pupils of IIippocrates in
40 Il. G. is exhibited
Naturally with SO many theories Of
disease, countless remedies were pro-
pounded by the followers Of the several
doctrines The museum classifics rem
edics as follows: magic. psychic, surgi-
cal, pharmacological and preventive
Particular attention is called to the
first of these remedial measures, magic
medicine or folk medicine" S,,persti
tons regarding disease and its remedies
are everywhere prevalent, not only
among the unCivilized and uneducated
but also in the cultivated communities:
the horse chestnut. for example, is car
RED for the prevention OF rheumatism
by many who cannot plead ignorance.
The second grand division of remedies
is known as psychic medicine or that
! treating the mind and soul Its sub.
divisions include the laying on of hands.
royal touch. music, metallotherapy. sug-
/ gestion, hypnotism, faith cure and the
/ like.
Surgical medicine forms the third divi-
sion and includes baths, massage, OK
ercise. electricity, acupuncture, cautery.
/ hlood-letting, and modern surgery The
first four treatments are we'll known;
acupuncture consists OF pricking the
living tissues by needles, and cautery.
of burning the same while blood-letting
Is the od-fashioned remedy for many all
monts used on our grandparents.
The next series Of exhibits pertains to
Pharmaceutical medicines or drugs
which were used by tho American
Indians I" n certain extent and in
Egypt. Greece. Arabia. the Orient and in
civilized countries to-day. ser,ms, vac
cihes etc, are also represented. This
collection is followed by examples Of
what is known as preventive medicine
! the fifth and last division. including the
use aud value of water, food. air
beverages and condiments, soil, habi,a-
tons sewage, clothing. climate, dis
posal Of the dead and dsinfection.
/ Other special cases display many
forms of animal and vegetable products.
as we'll as various chemical compounds
One case shows the composition of the
human body in chemical elements and
compounds, while another indicates by
weights and measures the relative value
of a days food and drink
Altogether this exhibit tends to mako
one realize the great amount OF study
which has been put upon this subject
IN all ages, and to emphasize the cardi-
nal facts necessary for the preservation
or health in practical and rational
manner.
MAY TERN ENDING.