The practice of medicine on Thomsonian principles : adapted as well to the use of families as to that of the practitioner : containing propositions illustrative of the philosophy of Thomsonianism : a brief history of the symptoms, peculiarities, and gener

Front matter

THE

PRACTICE OF MEDICINE

ON THOMSONIAN PRINCIPLES,

Chapter I

Sect. I. Intermitting fever— Ague and fever 17

II. Remitting or bilious fever 23

III. Typhus, congestive, and yellow fever 31

CHAPTER IL

Eruptive Diseases.

Sect. I. Small-Pox 40

II. Vaccination— cow-pox — kine-pox 48

III. Varioloid — modified small-pox 52

IV. Varicella — chicken-pox — swine-pox 54 V. Measles 55

VI. Scarlet fever 53

VII. Nettle-rash— Hives 65

VIII. Erysipelas— St. Anthony's fire— Rose 67

IX. Shingles 7^

X. Scajd Head 72

XI. Tetter 70

XII. Itch 7g

XIII. Ring worm 77

XIV. . Chafing in children 78 XV. Prickly heat # viii

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER III. Diseases affecting the Chest and Lungs

Sect. I. Bronchitis

II. Pulmonary consumption

III. Asthma, or phthisic

IV. Summer catarrh, or cold — Hay fever

V. Whooping-cough VI. Pleurisy

VII. Catarrh — common colds

CHAPTER IV. Diseases affecting the Mouth and Throat

Sect. I. Croup — Hives

II. n Quinsy

III. Mumps

IV. Common sore throat

V. Aphthous sore mouth — infant's sore mouth

VI. Elongated uvula — falling of the palate

CHAPTER V. Diseases affecting the Stomach and Bowels

Sect. I.' Colic 115

II. Cholera Morbus 117

III. Cholera infantum — cholera of infants 120

IV. Bilious colic 127 V. Colica pictonum — painter's colic 129

VI. Dysentery 132

VII. Diarrhoea— Relax 135

VIII. Peritonitis (Inflammation of the Peritoneum) 138

IX. Constipation 141

X. Dyspepsia — Indigestion 144

XI. Worms in the stomach and bowels 152 XII. Piles 157

Chapter Vi; 79 86 92 96 97 99 103

106 110 112 113 114 115

Sect. I.

Rheumatism .

CONTENTS.

ix

II. Lumbago — rheumatism in the loins 169

III. Gout 1 ib.

CHAPTER VII. (Diseases of the Kidneys and Bladder.)

Sect. I. Inflammation of the kidneys 174

Chronic diseases of the kidneys 175

II. Inflammation of the bladder 178

III. Diabetes — excessive flow of urine. * 182

IV. Retention of urine, (stoppage of urine) 185 V. Stranguary (Difficulty and pain in voiding urine) 188

VI. Incontinence of urine (Involuntary Jlow of urine) 191 VII. Suppression of urine ( The /cidneys ceasing to form

urine) 192

CHAPTER VIII. Disease of the Liver

Sect. I. Acute inflammation of the liver 194

II. Jaundice 200

Chapter IX

Sect. I. Apoplexy 204

II. Paralysis — palsy 208

III. Epilepsy (Convulsion fits— falling sichiess) 214

IV. Infantile convulsions 218

V. Chlorosis — green sickness • 220 VI. Hysteria — hysteric fits 223

VII. Fainting 227 VIII. Hypochondriasis (Dejection of mind — low spirits) 228

IX. St. Vitus' dance 233

X. Tetanus — locked jaw 238

XI. Hydrophobia (Bite of a mad dog or other rabid

animal) 241

XII. Neuralgia — Tic douloureux 245

Chapter X

Sect. I. Dropsy 251

1. Ascitis (-dropsy of the belly) 252

X CONTENTS.

2. Hydrothorax (dropsy of the chest) 253

3. Anasarca (cellular dropsy)

4. Hydrocephalus (dropsy of the brain)

5. Hydrocele (dropsy of the scrotum)

CHAPTER XL

Sect. I. Scrofula 26J II. Goitre 266

Chapter XII

Sect. I. Suspension of animation from drowing 268 II. Suspension of animation from carbonic acid gas 269 III. Suspended animation from lightning 271

CHAPTER XIII. Various forms of Diseases of the Eyes

Sect. I. Inflammation of the eyes from taking cold 272

II. Rheumatic inflammation of the eyes 274

III. Suppurative inflammation of the eyes 275

IV. Scrofulous sore eyes 278 V. Blindness (total or partial) 281

VI. Stye . 283

VII. Fistula lachrymalis (Obstruction in the duct which

conveys the tears from the eye into the nostril) 283

Chapter XIX

Sect. I. Inflammation 328

II. Sprains 338

III. Bruises 340

IV. Severe bruises where the system receives a shock ib. V. Wounds of the scalp 344

VI. Wounds produced by sharp instruments 347

VII. Lacerated wounds 350

VIII. Bruised Wounds ib.

IX. Punctured wounds 351

X. Wounds of joints 352

XI. Chilblains 357

XII. Treatment of frozen limbs 358

XIII. Biles 360

XIV. Carbuncle 361 XV. Abscess of the female breast 362

XVI. Whitlow or felon 363

XVII. Hip disease 365

XVIII. White swelling 369 XIX. Ulcers 371

1st. Simple or healthy ulcer 372

2d. Unhealthy ulcer ib.

xii

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XX. Venereal Disease

Sect. I. Gonorrhoea 378

Syphylitic sore, or chancre 382

Bubo — swelling in the groin 385

Secondary symptoms of syphilis 386

Chapter XXI

Sect. I. Obstructed Menstruation 388

II. Treatment of fluor albus, or whites 390

CHAPTER XXII. Miscellaneous

Bee-stings 391

Nervousness — weak nerves 392

Polypus of the nose 393

Cramp in the legs and feet 394

Prolapsus ani — protrusion of the bowels ib.

Hernia, or rupture 395

Course of Medicine.

General directions for administering a course of medicine 400

Of the removal of morbid secretions, or false membrane

from the coats of the stomach and bowels 409

Hot-air bath 420

Partial steaming , 421

Of the utility of emetics in the cure of disease in general 422

Of the use of cathartics, or purgative medicines 430

Thomsonian Materia Medica 441

Lobelia Inflata ib.

Preparations of lobelia 444

Third preparation of lobelia 446

Compound lobelia pills. 447

CONTENTS.

xiii

STIMULANTS

Which raise and sustain vital action, and assist the efforts of nature to remove disease.

Capsicum — Cayenne pepper 449

Thomson's composition powder 453

Black pepper 454

Ginger ib.

ASTRINGENTS AND DETERGENTS.

Thomson's No. 3. or Medicine for Canker.

Bayberry (Myrica Cirifera) 456

Upland sumac (Rhus Glabrum) 457

White pond lily (JYymphia Odorata) 458

Wild red raspberry (Rubus Strigosis) 458

Witch hazle (Hamamelis Virginiana) 459

Evan root (Guem Rivale) ib.

Marsh rosemary (Statia Limonium) ib.

Dewberry (Rubus Procumbens 460

Crow-foot — Cranes Bill ( Geranium Maculatum) ib.

Beach-drop (Orbanche Virginiana). ib.

Alum Root (Heuchera Jlmericana) 461

TONICS— BITTERS.

To strengthen the system and promote digestion.

Peruvian bark ( Cinchona officinalis) 462

Quinine 463 White aspen and black aspen poplar (Populus Tremuloids,

and Populus Grandidentata) 464

Balmony (Chelone Glabra) 465

Barberry (Berberis Vulgaris) ib.

Golden seal (Hydrastis Canadensis) ib.

Virginia snake root (Serpent aria Virginiana) 466

Centuary (Chironia Angularis) 466

Red dog- wood — Red willow (Cornus Cericea) ib.

Wild cherry (Prunus Virginiana) 467 Quassa

B xiv

CONTENTS.

Tulip poplar (Liriodendron Tulipifera) 468 Columba

Thoroughwort — Bonesett (Eupatorium Perfoliaium)

Yellow root [Xanthoriaza Apufolia) ^.

Chamomile (Anthemis Nobilis)

Myrrh 469

Thomson's No. 6, or rheumatic drops 471 No. 5 syrup, or restorative cordial ib.

Unicorn (Helonias Dioicia) 472

Bitter almonds, peach-meats and cherry stones- 473 Wine bitters ib.

Spice bitters ib.

Ladies spice bitters 474 Conserve of hollyhock ib.

NERVINES.

To quiet restlessness, calm nervous agitation, and promote sleep.

American valerian (Cypripedium Humile, pubescens, parviftorum,

Scull-cap [Scutellaria Lateriflora) 476

Hops ib.

Carbonate of Ammonia1 479

Camphor 480

Oil of turpentine ib.

Oil of amber 481

Oil of juniper 482

Oil of horsemint ib.

Oil of peppermint ib.

Oil of anise seed 483 Oil of caraway

VEGETABLE BALSAMS.

Balsam copaiva " 433

Balsam tolu 434

Balsam fir ^

Pennyroyal jfK

Ditany 485

CONTENTS.

XV

Catnip 4g5 Hoarhound ^

Scabious (Erigeron Philadelphicum and E. Canadense) 485

Honey ib.

Pipsissewa (Pyrola Umbellata) 486

Cleavers ^

Burdock ^

Cubebs *t'

Prickly ash (Zanthoxylum Fraxineum) 487

Sarsaparilla ^

Guiacum wood 489

Precipitated carbonate of iron fa

Yellow dock 49Q

Worm wood fa Tansy

Slippery elm ( Ulmas Fulva) fa

ACIDS,

Vinegar 491 Lemon juice

Elixir of vitriol 492

ALKALIES— ANTI-ACIDS.

Super-carbonate of soda 492

Bi-carbonate of soda ft

Sal seratus $

Hickory ashes 493

Charcoal $

Lime-water 494

Prepared chalk 495

Stimulating liniment No. 3 pills Ward's paste xvi

CONTENTS.

Of cough mixtures Cough powder

VOLATILE LOTIONS AND LINIMENTS.

Granville's lotion ^98

Ammonia liniment .

Camphor liniment l}-

Soap liniment ^-

Simple cerate 499

Basilicon ointment lJ>-

Gum elastic „ ib-

Tar ointment 500

Thomson's salve ib.

Astringent ointment ib-

Pitch plaster »&•

Thomson's strengthening plaster 501

Mustard plaster ib-

Warm water dressing ib-

Cayenne poultice 502

Emollient and slightly stimulating poultices ib.

Mallow's poultice ib-

Catnip poultice 503

Charcoal poultice ib-

Yeast poultice ib-

Myrrh poultice ib-

Wild Indigo poultice 503

Gum Arabic 504

Cider ib.

Arrow-root 505

Barley water ib.

Milk porridge ib.

Oat meal gruel 506

Essence of beef, or beef tea ib.

Chicken tea ib.

Crust coffee ib.

Panada 507

Mutton broth ib.

Wine whey ib.

Egg Soup ib.

Drying roots and herbs 508

Brief remarks in relation to cleanliness, diet, &c. fa

CONTENTS.

xvii

POISONS.

Means for counteracting the effects of concentrated acids 510 Means for counteracting the effects of concentrated alkalies, ib

Corrosive sublimate 522

Arsenic ^

Antimony 512

Copper 513

Lunar caustic ^

Nitre— Saltpetre %

Swamp sumac and poison vine 514

Opium ih

Belladonna {Deadly Nightshade) 515

Strychnia 516

Datura Strammomum (Gympson or Jamestoim Weed) ib.

t Matter in all its diversity of character, quality, form and combination, may be classed in two great divisions, namely : Organic and Inorganic matter.

II. Organic Matter includes the two vast kingdoms of nature ; the animal, and the vegetable kingdom.

III. Inorganic Matter includes all bodies not possessed of life, and are not endowed with a capacity for life.

IV. Without organization there cannot be life ; and again, organized bodies, though possessed of a capacity for life, require the impression of " stimulants to call it into activity."

V. " Life, is the consequence of the operation of stimuli or excitants, on organized matter." — Brown.

" Life, is the organism in motion." — Richrand. " A proper organization, and suitable temperature, produces life and motion." — Samuel Thomson.

VI. " Caloric, or Heat, is the cause of life and motion."— Thomson.

VII. " Caloric, whatever be its nature, is the first and most important of all stimulants ; and if it ceases to animate the economy, others loose their influence over it."— Broussais.

VIII. It is by the animating power of heat, that the system becomes susceptible to the impression of other life-supporting agents, as air, light, electricity, galvanism, food, drinks and medicine.

IX. "If the system be deprived of caloric for a certain length of time, all the preservative, recuperative, and sanative phenomena cease. It is the same also as respects oxygen."— Broussais.

XX PRINCIPLES OF MEDICINE.

X. Caloric brings into play that power, (assumed to be an electro-galvanic influence,) which is the immediate agent ot every movement that takes place in the living system : operating througn the medium of the nervous apparatus, carries on and governs all trie vital functions, respiration, circulation, digestion, nutrition, assimilation &c. ; selects and expels effete or worn out matter by the pores of the skin, the kidneys, and other depuratory organs, carries on all the various secretions; endows the organs with sensation ; and enables the organization to resist the influence of causes that tend to its destruction.

These facts or principles constitute the basis of medical science.

XL During the early period of life, heat is derived from the medium in which the young being is placed— in the higher order of animals, and in man the mother furnishes the heat necessary to awaken and sustain vital action, but when the organs becomes developed, the system acquires the power of producing or generating heat. The lower order of animals, such as reptiles and insects, depend upon heat from the sun, and when the heat sinks, to a certain degree, they become torpid and inanimate until the supply of heat is sufficient to rekindle vital action.

XII. "While the assimilation of food in vegetables, and the whole process of their formation, are dependent on certain external influences which produce motion, the development of the animal organism is, to a certain extent, independent of these external influences, just because the animal body can produce within itself that source of motion, which is indispensable to the vital process."— Liebig.

XIII. " The first conditions of animal life, are nutritious matters and oxygen, introduced into the system." — 16.

XIV. " The mutual action between the elements of the food, and the oxygen conveyed into the circulation of the blood to every part of the body, is the source of animal heat." — lb.

XV. A good digestion, and a proper supply of food and air, are necessary, in order to cause the amount of heat to be generated, necessary to maintain healthy action in the system.

XVI. The stomach is the " Throne of life," the great centre from which the vital energy is generated. While the stomach retains its power, it continues to generate the vital energy, necessary to sustain healthy action throughout the system. " The stomach is the fire-place of the system, and food is the fuel that furnishes the heat upon which life and motion depend."

PRINCIPLES OF MEDICINE.

xxi

XVII. In proportion as the power of digestion is weakened, will the heat generating power be weakened. And the power of resisting disease will be lessened in the same ratio that the power of generating heat is lessened.

The digestive functions are always more or less impaired in disease. Coldness of the system, languor and debility, and loss of appetite are symptoms that prevail in the beginning of disease of every variety ; and the vital force resisting the cause of disease occasions fever ; and it is through the agency of vital energy or the heat producing power that disease is overcome. This fact furnishes the starting point and guide to the practition of medicine in the application of remedies to cure disease upon correct principles.

"In disease, support the power of inward heat, until the stomach is in a condition to digest food."

XVIII. Two great sources of disease are exposure to cold and dampness, and improper articles of food or drink taken into the stomach. In the first case the heat or vital energy being, abstracted from the body faster than it is generated, the vital functions are weakened and a sense of coldness and listlessness is experienced until reaction or fever comes on. When digestion is lost from internal causes* the system becomes cold, because the power of generating it is weakened.

Exposure of the feet to dampness and cold is a very common source of disease. Dampness, probably, operates as a conducting medium, by which the caloric, but more especially the electro-galvanic or nervous fluid escapes, not only from the lower extremities but from the stomach and all the viscera of the abdomen through the medium of the nerves, which form a connected chain of conductors or channels throughout the system. When the nervous fluid escapes faster than it is generated in the system, the vital functions over which it has control become enfeebled or deranged.

During the prevalence of Cholera, some years since, in those attacked with it the digestive functions were so completely prostrated in many cases that the patients died without any signs of reaction : continuing cold and cramped from the commencement of the disease to its termination. In these violent cases, the functions of calorification and enervation, or the power of generating heat and nervous energy, were suspended. The treatment that proved most effectual in curing this fatal disease was the application of the vapour bath ; emetics of the 3d preparation of lobelia and the free use of cayenne and other powerful stimulants. This same plan of treatment is adapted to the cure of all violent attacks of disease, as it constitutes the most effectual means for sustaining the vital energies, and for evacuating the stomach of undigested food and other morbific matter, and restoringits lost power. In fever although the heat of the surface is increased above the natural standard, yet the amount generated is less than is produced in a state of health. The secretions and transpirations from the mucous surface being to a great degree suspended, the heat is locked up, as it were, in the system, and

Xxii PRINCIPLES OF MEDICINE.

this, it would seem, is a wise provision for retaining the heat, to sustain the recuperative actions. The most fatal forms of disease are those in which the system looses the power of generating heat; as cold plague, violent cholera, and the most severe cases of scarlet fever and yellow fever— being unattended with fever— the principles of life being extinguished, and the system unable to react.

XIX. The first symptoms in disease, prove a weakened condition of vital action. As the vital force reacts against the cause of disease, a new train of symptoms ensues : the pulse becomes quicker and stronger ; the surface becomes hot and dry, and the system is in a state of feverish excitement, in other words the patient has a fever. The vital principle resisting the cause of disease, occasions fever and it is by this power of vital resistance, that disease is overcome and health restored. For instance, intermitting fever as it is termed, commences with a chill. When reaction takes place, fever comes on, and after a contest of from less than an hour, to several hours, between nature and the enemy, a favourable crisis is formed : perspiration comes on, the capillary circulation is restored, the pulse softens, and in many instances the patient will be in apparently pretty good health, until the succeeding chill, when the constitution again rallies under the control of the vital principle, and establishes the same preservative health-sustaining action constituting fever, terminating by the critical evacuations, from the skin and kidneys.

XX. All acute diseases come on with the same general symptoms, these are chilliness, debility, and loss of appetite, and whenever fever comes on, it is occasioned by the vital force instituting the movements or actions, necessary to resist the influence of the cause of disease, and to bring about critical evacuations, to remove the effects of disease and restore health. It is by vital action that disease is cured, and no remedy should be employed for the cure of disease, that does not act in harmony with the vital principle. Thomson's system is based upon the principle of assisting nature, the only true principle of treating disease.

"My general plan of treatment" (observes Dr. S. Thomson,) " has been in all cases of disease, to cleanse the stomach by giving an emetic of lobelia, and produce as great an internal heat as I could, by the use of cayenne pepper, or other stimulants under the head of No. 2 ; and when necessary, make use of the steam bath, in which I always found a great benefit, especially in fevers. After this I gave a tea of bayberry, or of a compound of the articles under the head of No. 3, to clear off the canker ; and in all cases where the patient had not become so low that the constitution had nothing left to build upon, I have been successful in restoring them to health."

In eruptive diseases, as small-pox, measles, and scarlet fever,

PRINCIPLES OF MEDICINE.

there are always in the commencement, general debility, chilliness and a disordered stomach. These are the direct effects of the morbific agent that produces the disease, and but for a counteracting influence, vital actions would be overcome. The constitutor! establishes a reaction or fever, by which the disease is thrown to the surface, producing an eruption on the skin.

A<3w Jhf deS}gn °S ie™t[0U or fever' theref°i-e, is to restore the lost heat and vitality, and remove all morbific or deleterious agents and their effects from the system.

XXII. A course of treatment that will cleanse the stomach and bowels and restore their natural warmth and action, will remove levers, by assisting to bring about what the fever is designed to accomplish. When the offending cause is removed there will be nothing to excite fever or reaction.

There is another and very opposite plan for subduing fever, to wit: By reducing the vital forces or the recuperative efforts of nature, by bleeding, purging, and the use of poisonous agents, as nitre and antimony. This, though the fashionable practice, is nevertheless unnatural, unsuccessful, and hazardous to the future health, if not to the life of the patients on whom it is practised.

XXIII. An important indication in the treatment of acute disease, attended with high arterial excitement or violent fever is to overcome the contracted or spasmodic condition of the capillary vessels by relaxing the system with means which harmonize with hear ™g FmCIp ' and that wil1 Promote vital energy, or, inward

To effect a relaxation of the system there is probably no agent of equal value with the lobelia inflata. This medicine exerts a surprising influence in equalizing the nervous power, and in relaxing the system, without weakening the vital properties In many instances, however, fever may be removed by the same means alone that will overcome a chill, to wit: pure stimulants and the vapour bath. Medical men of the old school, have not made a proper distinction between pure stimulants that strengthen and promote a healthy action, and those agents which occasion morbid excitement at the expense of the vital powers. A patient in a fever tlwit would be injured by brandy, would in the same condition be benefited by drinking freely of capsicum tea.

XXIV. As a consequence of a reduction and derangement of vital action, there are in disease, thickened morbid secretions, by JJr. lhomson termed " canker," formed on the lining membrane of the stomach and bowels. The stomach becoming coated with thickened tenacious secretion or « canker," is probably a general xxiv PRINCIPLES OF MEDICINE.

cause of a disease being protracted. It »;£d«grf*£ Samuel Thomson, that "where there is a settled/^^aeted canker seated in the stomach." The tongue is more or less .coated with « canker " or morbid secretions in diseases and i s appe ar ance affords a criterion by which to judge of the •condition ot the stomach. A tendency in this " canker" * ^J^™ from the edges of the tongue, is usually one of the farst signs inui catins: a favourable crisis in a disease.

To remove the "canker," (I make use of this term because it is the one generally employed and understood by Thomsonians) is of much importance in the cure of disease. This requires in the first place the use of such means as will excite the secretions and "restore the inward heat," by which, as Dr Thomson expresses it, the "canker is ripened," and as these morbid secretions soften, they may be removed by the use of Thomson's " No. 3,' or medicines for canker." The tannin and gallic acid contained in these vegetable preparations, have a strong affinity tor the canker " and by combining with it overcome its tendency to putrefaction, and they also detach it from the coats of the stomach, removing obstructions to the secretions, and enable the chyliferous vessels to take up nourishment, and supply a necessary material for the production of heat— the main-spring of vital action.

XXV. In violent local determination of blood to a part or organ, as in croup, inflammation of the brain, violent pleurisy, inflammation of the kidneys, apoplexy, &c. one of the most important indications in the treatment is to overcome this undue determination to the diseased part by relaxing the system with lobelia, either by the stomach or administered by injection. The same course ot treatment is applicable in profuse hemorrhage, as in bleeding trom the lungs, nose, or uterine organs.

XXVI. Finally, Dr. Thomson's System of Practice is adapted to the cure of disease in general; and, if judiciously applied, will effect a cure in all cases that are curable by means of medicine.

HEALTH.

Perfect health may be defined to be that condition in which the principle of life, or vital power, holds supreme and undisturbed control over all the various actions in the body.

DISEASE.

Disease consists in a loss of vital power, or a weakened condition of the principle of life.

PRINCIPLES OF MEDICINE.

XXV

Symptoms do not constitute disease. They are the immediate consequences of diminished vital power ; or they may arise from the restoring efforts of the constitution. Thus the first symptoms in disease, as languor and debility, coldness of the surface and chilliness, are the immediate effects of a loss of vital power, whereas when reaction takes place, many of the accompanying symptoms, as fever, pain, inflammation, vomiting, diarrhoea, and convulsions, are the consequence of the vital force resisting the cause of disease.

Of the General Causes of Disease,

Disease is produced by agents or powers which exert an influence upon the system, not congenial to the vital principle, or which are not in relation with, or adapted to, the laws of life.

Exposure to cold and dampness; sudden vicissitudes of temperature, more especially when the system is in an exhausted condition ; changes in the electric condition of the atmosphere ; poisonous 4ffluviaVgenerated by the decomposition of vegetable matter ; unwholesome food taken into the stomach ; excesses in eating or drinking and in the indulgence of the sexual passion^ ; and specific poisonous agents, suchjras produce small-pox, measles, and scarlet fever, are the general sources of disease.

Cold and dampness are the most fruitful sources of disease. Their direct effect upon the system is to weaken the vital power, and consequently diminish and subvert the healthy order of action in the system, and whatever organ or part of the body is weakest proportionally to' its natural degree of vitality, that will be the part most likely to become diseased. Hence of any number of persons exposed to Cold and dampness, each may have a different form of disease. ^ Thus one may have a pleurisy, another rheumatism, a third a simple catarrh, a fourth bronchitis, a fifth quinsy, a sixth neuralgia, a seventh sick headach, whilst another may 'be taken with bilious fever, and another with erysipelas. In this way almost every variety of disease may be brought on by the same cause

Exposure to sudden changes of temperature, more especially from heat to cold when the system is exhausted from exercise, or the vital forces, otherwise enfeebled, may give rise also to a varietv of forms of disease.

Marsh miasmata. — The poisonous effluvia, or vapour, arising from decomposition of vegetable matter, together with cold and dampness, are believed to be the principal causes of the fevers that prevail during the latter part of summer, and in autumn, more xxvi PRINCIPLES OF MEDICINE.

particularly in low marshy districts of country. It is ^|Jal°Jys^! hat fevers prevail most in marshy places and near ponOs s 01 g nant water Newly cleared land evidently gives rise ^ tonox fif vTpours, from tie decomposition that ensues on the fresh earth to the sun. This will account lor tne v of disease in newly settled places. .„:„*„ weaken

The first effect of this miasmata upon the system , to weaken the vital powers ; the strength becomes en eebled the .pgdto fails • there are languor, chilliness and aching pains , Pr«cl»e,v such' symptoms as might be produced by exposure to cold «d dampness These symptoms are the direct consequences of the pSnous' effluvia weakening vitality, and as the constitution rallies to expel the poison, fever is produced.

The greater part of medicines employed in the regular prachce have no relation to the laws of life, but are repugnant to Nature, and injurious to the constitution. Such agents will modify symptoms or change the form of disease, but often, where a cure is effected, it is the result of the sanative efforts of the constitution, in spite of medicine. f<^ ; -i,

Arsenic is often given in intermitting fever, and hough it will stop the chill and fever, it establishes a permanent disease in the mucous membrane of the stomach and bowels, and thus produces chronic dyspepsia, attended by a swollen abdomen, which is seldom removed under a year, and sometimes terminating in dropsical affections.

FEVER.

Fever is the effort of the vital powers to overcome disease, or a method established by nature to resist the . causes of disease, and to expel from the system whatever is offensive or injurious. Hence most of the symptoms in acute disease are but the recuperative actions resisting the force of disease. Every variety of disease attended by fever, Comes on with the same general symptoms. Thus pleurisy, bilious fever, small-pox, scarlet fever, measles, dysentery, and every other form of acute disease, begin with languor, loss of appetite, and general coldness. This is the first change from the healthy state: a diminution of vital heat, and nervous power. The blood recedes from the surface, and nature in exercising her power of resistance to disease occasions fever.

"Fever and reaction in excess, are," says professor Jackson, " precisely the same ; they are properly symptoms rather than disease ; they are salutary and sanative in design ; they are the evidences of power and force which admit of remediate and curative operations ; and they are in themselves the recuperative processes of the economy in action, instituted for its preservation." Therefore the " design of nature in disease should be studied and aided^

PRINCIPLES OF MEDICINE.

xxvii

Dr. Samuel Thomson in his "remarks on fevers" says — " What is commonly called fever, is the effect and not the cause of disease. It is the struggle of nature to throw off disease. The cold causes an obtruction, and fever arises to remove it. This is universally the case. Remove the cause and the effect loill cease.''''

This theory of fever advanced by Dr. Thomson, and doubtless original with him, was maintained by Hypocrates, Sylvius and others of the early writers on medicine. But thesfailure of their practice arose from the employment of remedies which tended to aggravate rather than assist the efforts of nature. The medical faculty have never made the proper distinction between pure stimulants, which raise and support vital action, and those which provoke an unnatural action, and ultimately exhaust the strength. It is to Samuel Thomson we are indebted for the discovery and selection of medicines which harmonize with the laws of life, and if judiciously applied, are adapted to the cure of every variety of disease,

" Again," says Dr. Thomson, "there is no other difference in all cases of fever, than what is caused by the different degrees of cold, or loss of inward heat, which (meaning cold and heat) are two adverse parties in one body contending for power. If the heat gains the victory, the cold will be disinherited, and health will be restored ; but on the other hand, if cold gains the ascendency, heat will be dispossessed of its empire, and death will follow of course." *■*#**" When the power of cold is nearly equal to that of heat, the fever or strife between the two parties may continue, and occasion what is called a continued fever. In ague and fever, the strife between the cold and heat occurs periodically, in some instances, every day, in others every second, and sometimes every third day." " In attempting to cure a case of this kind," says Thomson, " we must consider whether the fever is a friend or an enemy ; if it is a friend, which I hold to be the fact, it should be aided by increasing the power of heat internally, and thus assist in driving out the coid, and life will bear rule." In alluding to the practice of regular physicians in fever, Thomson says, "Instead of following-the dictates of nature and aiding to subdue the cold, the doctor uses all his skill to kill the fever." * * * * " Support the fever and it will return inside where the heat belongs ; the cold which causes the disease will be driven out, and health will be restored. In all cases of fever the cause is the same in a greater or less degree, and requires one general plan of treatment. Cold causes canker (a morbid secretion) in the stomach and bowels, and before the canker becomes seated, the hot medicine alone, assisted by the vapour bath, will throw it off. When the fever becomes settled, or continues to return, it is evidence of xxviii