Medical reform, or, Physiology and botanic practice for the people

Front matter

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Preface To The Sixth Edition

Many parties have complained that they were disappointed in their applications for this work, through the ordinary channels, the Author begs most respectfully to explain, that such has been the unprecedented demand for it wherever it was known, that the whole of the five first editions were sold within the circle of his own acquaintance, as fast as they could be procured from the hands of the binder ; so that no portion of those editions ever reached the appointed publisher.

He would also observe of this edition, that, while making the necessary corrections for the press, he has found little occasion either for making additions or alterations in the prescriptions given in the five first ; but what additions subsequent experience has suggested, will be found at the end of this volume.

Index

Acidity of the Stomach, 1 1 9 Allspice, 251 Aloes, 269 Angelica, 251 Antiscorbutics, 26 G Antispasmoilics, 71, 273 Apoplexy, 225 Asthma, 190 Astringents, 68, 253 Avens root, 255

Balmoney, 69 Barberry, 70, 262 Barberry, 104, 254 Bitter almonds, 70 Black cherry, 70 Black pepper, 67 Bleeding of the lungs, 184 Bleeding from the nose, 238 Bone setting, 239 Boxwood, 70 Broom tops, 265 Buchu leaves, 265 Buckbean, 263 Burns and scalds, 237 Butternut, 268

Cancer plaster, 276

Capsicum annuum, plate of, 12, 67

Catechu 259

Cayenne or capsicum, 42 Centaury', 264 Chilblains, 238 Cholera syrup, 273

„ Asiatic or Indian, 130 „ infantum, 135 „ morbus, 129 Cleavers, 265 Clove, 251

Composition powder, 260 Colic, 121 Costiveness, 137 Colds and coughs, 155 Consumption, 168 Cough syrup, 186 Course of medicine, 243 Columba, 262 Copaiva balsam, 266 Compounds, list of, 272 Cranesbill, 68, 257 Cramp in the stomach, 118 Croup, 168

Diarrhoea, 127 Diet, 147

Diet for the sick, 148 Digestion, theory of, 76, 78 Digestion, the mean time of different articles, 149 Diuretics, 264

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INDEX.

Diuretic tea, 274 Dock root, 2G7

Doctors, their opinion of their profession, 31

Dose, proportions, 146 Drying and preserving herbs and roots, 278 Dropsy, 228 Dysentery, 123

Emetics, 253 Epilepsy, 223 Eruptive diseases, 2 1 1 Erysipelas, 219 Eye waters, 274

„ old treatment of, 204 „ new treatment of, 206 Fluor albus, 233

Giddiness, 227 Ginger, 67 Golden seal, 7 0 Gout, 200 Ground Ivy, 266

Head-ache snuff, 273 Heartburn, 117 Hemlock, 68

History and mystery of medicine, 25 Hollyhock conserve, 273 Hooping cough, 165 Horehound, 70, 263 Hydrastis Canadensis, 70, 261 Hydrophobia, 229 Hypochondria, 114 Hysterics, 226

Indigestion, causes and cure of, 94 „ symptoms of, 100 Inflammation of bladder, 193, 194 „ of bowels, 136

„ of brain, 220

„ of eyes, 236

„ of kidneys, 193

„ of lungs, 166

Influenza, 157 Insalivation, 83

Jaundice, 110 Juniper, 265

Kidneys, diseases of, 193 King’s evil, 217

Liniment, for rheumatism, &c., 277 ,, stimulating, 277

„ volatile, 276

Liver complaint, 105 Lobelia inflate, plate of, 39

„ as an autispasmodic, 65

„ as an emetic, 65

„ pharmaceutical preparations of, 66 „ properties of, 72

„ as a sudorific, 65

„ syrup of, 67

„ testimony of the faculty in its favour, 72 ,, as tincture, 65

„ vinegar of, 66

Locked jaw, 228 List of agents, 283

Marsh rosemary, 68, 255 Mastication, 80 Materia medica, 65, 249 Meadow sweet, G9 Measles, 213

Menstruation, 226, 228, 233 Mountain flax, 268

Nerve ointment, 278 Nerve powder, 71 Nervines, 70 Nerve tea, 274 Number 6, 71

Oak bark, 68 Ointment for itch, 277 „ for ulcers, 277

„ of tar, 276

Palpitation of the heart, 231 Palsy, 221 Peppermint, 252 Peruvian bark, 258 Piles, 145

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Pills, 278

Pinas Canadensis, 08 Plaster, strengthening, 276 Pleurisy, 190 Poplar bark, 260 Poultices, 275

„ Indian meal, 275

„ charcoal, 275 „ cayenne, 275 Putrid sore throat, 159

Quassia, 264 Quinine, 259 Quinsy, 157

Raspberry, 255 Rheumatism, 197 Rhubarb, 268 Rush, Dr., his theory, 34

Salve, healing, 276

„ „ Thompson’s ditto, 276

Scald head, 215 Scarlet fever, 220 Scrofula, 217 Scullcap, 270 Scurvy, 216 Sedatives, 71 Small pox, 211 Stevens’s Dr., memoir of, 54 Smoking, evils of, 84 Soothing drops, 274 Spiced bitters, 260, 273 Stimulants, 71 St. Vitus’s dance, 225 Stomach, 90, 92

Sumach, 257 Syphilis, 246

Thompson’s Dr., Theory of, 34 „ memoir of, 37

„ discovery of lobelia

inflata, 38 Teeth stopping, 82 I Thompsonian materia medica, 65 Tic doloureux, 232 Tinctures : —

Antispasmodic, 274 Scullcap, 274 Myrrh, 274 Fir balsam, 275 Lobelia, 65 Tobacco smoking, 84 Tonics, 69 Tooth-ache, 85 Tormentil, 185

Urine, involuntary flow of, 196

Vaccination, the discovery of, 21 Valerian, 269 Vapour bath, 208 Venereal disease, 240 Vomiting, 119

White pond lily, 68, 256 Whites, 233 Witch hazel, 69 Wood sage, 263 Worms, 141

Preface

In presenting this work to the public, the author thinks it proper to state, that he does so in obedience to the urgent request of a large portion of intelligent individuals, to whom he has had the honour of delivering his course of lectures on Medical Botany ; and as this request arose out of the anxiety on the part of the audience to retain their possession of the practical matter contained in these lectures, and to form botanical societies for mutual aid and instructions among the people, the author has endeavoured to meet their views, by presenting to them a work which embraces a complete system of medical reform, as originally taught by the late Dr. Thompson, of America.

It will be seen by this, that the author lays no claim to the primary principles herein demonstrated, but, giving honour to whom honour is due, at once declares the source from whence he has derived this valuable knowledge. But there is one honour to which he confidently aspires, and that is the envied one of being the first in this country to make known to the British public the singular life, medical discoveries, and extraordinary success of this gifted individual. In the United States of America, the Thompsonian practice has proved its astonishing powers, by enabling the people to dispense, in thousands of instances, with the usual medical attendants, and cure every disease that is curable at all, with the greatest expedition, and with an effect that is permanent. Cases that have baffled the most consummate skill of ordinary practice have yielded to its power with a facility that has astonished the public, and established its claim to be considered as almost specific.

This has induced the author of the following pages to adapt it to British practice, by combining the herbs of this country in prescription with those of America which contain similar properties, and which are now regularly imported here for the pnrposc. The botanic practice, therefore, now submitted to the public, is so arranged as to form a complete “ Domestic Medicine,” deduced not only from the author’s own experience, but from every available source published by the American authors ; for it is to be observed, that not only have the writings of Dr. Thompson been caro-

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PREFACE.

fully examined, but all tbe best authors who have followed in the same career, and made further discoveries, have been called into his aid and made subservient to his purpose.

The avowed object of these pages is to prove that, however lofty Medical Science has appeared when clothed in mystery, or flaunting in the false airs of pedantic learning, it is not, if stripped of that mystery, higher than the reach of the ordinary mind, or beyond the attainment of common sense. Extensive experience justifies him in this remark, that the common sense of the people, when in possession of a true theory of medicine, will be found quite capable of curing all diseases to which they are subject. Nor are they disinclined to embrace it ; for, wherever he has delivered a course of lectures, such has been the deep interest felt, that he has been invariably requested by the public to deliver the same again, that they might retain the principles developed. And the general request has been, that he should print and publish that information ; so that, in presenting this work to the public, he does so to meet an urgent demand. He has carefully selected matter to give confidence in the practice, and to make it most useful to mankind ; and, with this view, he confidently hopes that those who purchase will read, mark, and duly appreciate his effort to impart to the people this most valuable information, at a cost that comes within the reach of the millions it is intended to benefit.

In laying down the instructions for the people’s guidance, he has given those recipes which he has found the most efficacious, in a practice extending through many towns, and numbering per annum, over the amount of ten thousand patients, chiefly consisting of those who had sought relief in vain, by all other means, and whose testimonials show that he has met with extraordinary success.

Many philosophers, renm-ned both of ancient and modem writers, have recorded their faith, and foreboded a period when the people would become their own doctors ; when each father would be the physician to his own family. That day is at hand, and to facilitate the object, many have suggested the formation of friendly Botanical Societies amongst the working classes, and their extension to every part of the kingdom, that tho people may mutually assist each other in the study of Medical Botany, and establish and propagate a general knowledge of these principles, so glorious in eradicating disease from society, and relieving it of much of that poverty and deplorable suffering which arise from wrong practice.

INTRODUCTION ;

BEING AN

IMPORTANT APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE,

ON THE URGENT NECESSITY OP

MEDICAL REFORM.

TO REFORMERS, THE LOVERS OF TRUTH, THE FRIENDS OF SUFFERING HUMANITY.

It has been our consolation under every difficulty, and the great source of our joy when we have triumphed over it, to be conscious that we lived at a period in human progression, when the noblest aspirations of the mind were received by the understanding, and became united in the hearts of the common people — the millions, whose will is the nation’s freedom, whose power is the irresistible lever to remove every ill felt in and through every department of society. Each age has had its attractive cry, around which it rallied all its powers. Reform has been the peculiar charm of this our day and generation, often commencing with the honest convictions of a few obscure persons, or even one individual, acting as a single seed ; and germinating beneath the warmth of enthusiasm that rose before the rays of truth, forthwith took root, spread its branches, and showered down its fruits in every direction. Monopoly and the baneful effects of exclusive privilege, have been uprooted, and the tree of liberty established upon their ruin, and this we have lived to behold, in Government laws, in commerce, in the safety of the subject, and the liberty of the press, and lastly, in the noble and grand achievement tliat has freed the people’s inferc/tant/e of the staff of life.

But however great and manifest the good attained in these reforms, upon the broad interest of the masses, there is yet one of deeper consideration— one reform that must prove even more near and dear to the best

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