Year: 1861

For the North Ioiod Times.


Eclcctici>ln. ..... A.
A year more or less, has elapsed since a
writer who signed himself eclectic ad-
ministered Cochi. Amp. Of gratuitous ad-
vice to one who had written several medical
articles for your paper, "The Times" and as
It con,ained several very nauseating and
bitter ingredients which did not appear to
benefit the patient in any way, the remem-
brance Of the horrid dose set us to work to
investigate the virtues Of Eclecticism. So
setting down to our books we found that
Eclecticism was rather an antiquated gen.
tleman the term itself is of very ancient
date-having been used by pagan divincs
long before the Christian era. On looking
for the origin of the word Eclectic we find
it is from the Greek and signifies to select,
and supposed to characterize sect who
compiled their religious system by picking
out something from each of the religious
systems then in vogue. What became Of
that sect we do not care to say, but we find
that about the time Of the Christian era


cne Archigenes, a Syrian, who was an en-
piric-which means quack who was
a frequent subject Of Juvcnal in his sa-
tircs-makes use of the term and applies it
to sect Of which he was the founder He is
said to have been the most celebrated Eclec-
tic in an ancient times and to have been
mostly indebted for his fame to the unintcl-
lisible character Of his works. This sect
then may justly lay claim to considcrabl,
antiquity but the links Of its history have
been widely separated. 1t has from its ori-
gin been regarded as empirical and to no
considerable extent, has it embraced among
its advocates any great array of talent In
the United States we find several small in
institutions supported by cclectics but most
Of those men who practice medicine under
that name were bred to some other employ
mcnt such as wagon making, farming or
blacksmithing, but not content to remain in
their own appropriate condition, aspired to
be gods of some kind, and left some hon.
orable vocation which gave them support,
and surreptitiously entered the arena Of
medicine. ..


The more we study cclectictism the more
we think it is not what its name implies, for
in such case we would have no objection
to its practice but to its name. No one can
urge any objection to the use of the very
best medical means. The regular practi-
toner always endeavors to do this and is
always improving and increasing his re.
sources for that purpose lie calls to his
aid Botany, Chemistry, Materia Mcdica and
all the Sciences that can have any bearing
on or improving his means for removing
diseases. What more can others do. What
superior means of research and investira-
ton do these Eclcctics claim to possess 1t
is said that there are some educated and
quite respectable men who belong to this
class but.it is also well said that these men
are in poor company. They pretend to
compile their system Of therapeutics by Sc
lcctihg from all the medical schemes in


vogue, such things as they may deem pro-
per. FROM regular practice, Homeopathy,
Taomsonism and Hydropathy they try to
arrange kind of bouquet that may appear
pleasant to somebody's sight If not to their
olfactories. They wear coat of patch
work made up of cloth of different colors,
some of which they appear to think will
please person no matter how particular.
They call themselves Eclectics which signi-
fies to Gull, or pick out from something al
ready prepared--therefore true to their
name they wait for others to prepare the
material from which they purloin whatever
suits them. They are not the ones to lead
the van in scientific attainments but are ca
PRECIOUS camp followers. They originate
nothing but unthankfully borrow and im-
tate; all they possess has been the result Of
the labor, research and observations Of the
regular physicians fer the last two thousand
years and If these last named must be laid
aside for those men who, like the parrot,
initiate well, the conclusion must be mort.
flying to all good and true men. Having
learned the foregoing facts in regard to
eclecticism the writer concludes that the un-
pleasant dose referred to at the commence.
ment Of this article was obtained from some
superanuated physicians garnet where it had
been laid aside as unfit for use and hereaf-
ter We propose to let cclecticism alone and
take no notice Of its principles or alkalies
if any are offered. r NJ. c. H.


Wounc n, In Farmer. TiaAaNs