Allopathy, homœopathy, hydropathy : reasons of their failure: and nature's cures, exemplified by cases

Introduction

It lias been said, that “a problem is a thing to be done, and not a thing to be talked about,” and so is the cure of disease. I have employed these words before, but they are just as applicable now as then. In the following pages I simply propound principles, and record facts, — it is for others to institute comparisons and draw conclusions.

Weymoxith, 1861.

ALLOPATHY, HOMCEOPATHT, HYDEOPATHY:

EEASOl^S OP THEIR EAILHRE.

“The subject of man’s body is, of all things in nature, the most susceptible of remedy, but then that remedy is the most susceptible of error.”

The Eather of English philosophy, prohahly, never vrote so few words that evinced a greater amount of knowledge of man’s nature, and in the same words conveyed so important and simple a truth : for the first part distinctly points out the fact that there must he a natural preservative and curative power inherent in the constitutional organization of the human hody ; by which all disorders are either prevented or remedied ; and in the second part, that the simple truth of nature’s remedial power would from its very simplicity be a stumbling block, and render it most susceptible of error : the errors arising from tho ignorance, prejudice, fear, superstitious credulity, and selfishness of man.

As I have in a work published some years ago, “Vitalism Exemplified,” shown the origin to which one large class of disorders are referable, the basis upon which their treatment should bo

TETJE PEINCIPLE9 founded, and the principles that should regulate their management practically, it mil be unnecessary to enlarge upon the subject now; I shall merely observe, that the same basis and principles are as applicable to one class of disorders as another, — ^in fact are the only true basis and principle upon which the treatment of any disorder can be rationally founded ; and I will show by the practical results, in the relation of cases of a totally distinct character, (or different “Diseases,” as they are called by jVTedical Men,) the truth of the doctrine of man’s body being most susceptible of remedy. Without going largely into the reasons advanced in my former work, I will extract a few passages, sufficient to show the general character and tendency of the arguments employed.

“ That it is absolutely impossible from the nature of things, as evinced in aU creation, that the most perfect and complex work in nature, could have been left unfinished, — that the plan of man’s organization would have been devised, the materials prepared, the fabric built up, the different parts of the framework adapted to each other, the machme supplied with every necessary and appropriate organ, the fimctions appointed for their performance, and then left incomplete by neglecting to set it in motion, and makmg every provision for its continuance in order and power ; and thus placing the most complex and perfect work created, beyond the controlling agency of nature’s laws, and subjecting it for renovation and repair when out of order, to the limited and imperfect instruments of man’s invention.

“That the organization of the human body is perfeetly constructed, and specially adapted to all the purposes of life and health.

“That as a neeessary consequence of perfectihility , the human body is endowed -with inherent preservative and curative powers ; enabling it either to resist the influence of morbific causes, or to overcome them and restore the body to health when disordered by their agencies.

“That the inherent antagonistic power to the operation of morbific cau.scs, is ffital force ; or the sum of all the naiural oryank

OP XEJEATMENT.

functions, augmented to a degree commensurate with, or beyond, the nature, force, and extent of the disturbing causes.

“ That all the organs of the body are impressed with a definite natural constitution, eveiy function that takes place being in accordance with the law impressed upon, and inherent in, the physiological endowment of each separate organ; that every mode of action is invariable, and has one determinate end, if not interfered with, or interrupted in its progress, and that the natural tendency of such operations is to preserve life.

“That the term vis medioatrix natures denotes therefore the preservative power, which is the necessary result of the vital laws and physiological endowments impressed upon organized matter.

“ That nature therefore cures all disorders ; that is, that there exists necessarily a natural sanative power, inherent in the constitutional organization of man ; that it contains withiu itself the elements and powers of restoration from disorder, requiring only time, and occasionally a careful assistance of the natural sanative efforts, in strict accordance with the operation of the laws of organic life, and the physiological endowments of organic structure.

“That a natural curative principle does not demand belief for any thing for which there is not furnished the clearest demonstrable evidence.

“ That as a physiological truth it may, as far as a perfect knowledge of it is concerned, he above our comprehension, and human reason may not be able to grasp in all its hearings the hidden and mysterious principle of action and power ; hut then, though above reason, it is not contrary to reason, as established in the nature of things ; and requires to be admitted only upon simple and visible evidence, as confirmed by the open testimony and experience of daily recurring facts.

“That to the mjTiads of organs and functions, and results, exi.sting in the physical conformation of man, there are also to he added the incomprehensible and infinite operations of the human mind ; and that every mental effort is influenced by tho pliysical condition of one single organ of the body ; and that the intellectual

TRt7E PEINCIPI'ES and physical mechanism are so intimately blended, that no disturbing cause can affect the one without involving the other by sympathetic agency, and thus producing complications too vast for man’s understanding.

“ That this complex variety of intellectual and physical power, each distinct in itself, are indissolubly joined, and form one perfect whole, and by the law of adaptation, necessitate an all pervading principle of self-regulation and preservation ; thus confirming again the tiTith of an inherent preservative and curative principle, acting in accordance with the conditional necessities of the system.

“ That there is not in the whole organization of man, one single instance that any physiologist has discovered, where the normal operations of the impressed laws are deficient in the production of certain determinate functions ; nor can the most skilful anatomist point out, in the construction and arrangement of all the numerous and complicated organs, one single instance of non-adaptation ; and moreover there is not one single instance where the normal function or adaptation is to give pain, hut, on the contrary, in each and all to communicate pleasure to the sentient being ; and in every instance also, from the laws of vital constitution associated with organization and function, a power to resist or overcome the infliction of disorder.

“ That as all the organic functions of the animal economy take place in virtue of physiological endowment, and that organic actions are conformable to the laws imposed, it is impossible that any functional operation can occur naturally, without having a direct

tendency to avert premature death.

“ That when from any morbific agency that state or condition is produced in the human body, commonly but erroneously designated ‘Disease,' as denoted either by specific symptoms or appearances, such as the eruption in small-pox, and other skin affections, fevers, glandular suppurations, abscesses, sores, ulcers, tubercles, &c., &c., they are nothing more than indications of blood disorder, and arc the remedial processes of nature, and the means employed in virtue of the laws of vital constitution and physiological endowment, for

OP TREATMENT.

the removal of the disturbing agents, and consequently the prolongation of life.

“That all the organs of the body stand in various relations to each other, and through their natural medium of connexion (the nervous system) influence each other in all the different kinds and stages of disordered organic functions.

“ That the influence which disordered function of one organ or part of the system, exercises by means of nervous connexion and sympathy upon another organ or part of the system, is to produce a change of action, or another functional disturbance, whereby an additional symptom or symptoms are manifested, of apparently another ‘ Disease,' are only sympathetic effects, and the remedial symptomatic processes of nature, in regard to the primary disorder or organ affected.

“ That the success of the natural curative process depends,

1 . Upon the nature and extent of the disturbing cause.

2. "WTiether the cause affects a part only, or the whole of the

system.

3. If only one organ or part of the body, then, the relative

essentiality of that organ to Hfe.

4. The degree and number of sympathetic disturbances, and

symptomatic effects.

5. The quantum of vital-force or re-active power possessed by

the individual when affected, or the degree to which it may be developed, as the natural antagonistic power to the progression of disorder and death.

“That as this augmented vital-force is the result of organic re-actions, and simply a consequence of the laws of vital endowment, and is naturally repellent to those morbific causes, whose tendency is to produce a greater extent of disorder, an alteration of of organic structure, or death j when either of these occur, it is not a natwral result or termination, but unnatural ; and simply because the re-actions and repellent operations of vital-force, either from an originally weak organic power, or from an artificially depressed state of the vts-vita; by the employnient of drugs and

TETJE PRINCIPLES stimulants, are not equal to the task ; and death, often must inevitably follow, as a consequence of the very measures which have been used to avert it.

“ That as the specific properties, and pecuUa/r physiological endowments appointed to each organ, together Avith the balance or harmony of functional operations, must be maintained for health to exist ; so these properties, and endowments of structure, and this harmony or balance of functional operations must le restored (when lost) before health can be re-established.

“ That the only basis upon which a really scientific curative treatment can be founded is, to have a correct knowledge of healthy organic structure and function ; of the laws affecting that structure and function, and the physiological endowments and peculiar properties belonging to each organ and function ; this is to imderstand primary principles : and secondly, a knowledge of the causes as distiu’bing agents, both in kind and degree ; for the exactest knowledge of causation, remote and proximate, involves the exactest amount of knowledge of disordered condition and effects, and therefore necessarily gives the most correct knowledge of the method of treatment.

“ That the blood is the only substance in the human body that possesses in itself the principle of vitality.

“ That it is the remote cause of all the living organic actions in every part of the system.

“ That the nerves are the mere excitants to function, or proximate causes of action.

“That the number of constituent elements entering into the formation of the living blood, must separately bear a fixed ratio to the whole mass; for if any one constituent be in excess, or diminished, beyond a given point, disorder of some kind or other follows ; and Avhether the alteration or chemical modification of the blood be antecedent or consequent to tho development of the disorder, the symptoms or condition of body point to the continuous cause of the disorder, and clearly indicate the method of treatment for its removal.

01^ TTITIATMENT.

“ That in some disorders, as fevers of an inflammatory character, the venous blood is brighter in colour, and the specific gravity is increased ; in other disorders the colour is darkened, and the specific gravity is diminished ; in some other inflammatory disorders the fibrine of the blood is increased ; in other forms of disorder it remains the same, and in others is diminished j and in particular kinds of disorders the diminution of red globules is most marked, and sometimes they are almost altogether absent.

“ That as the blood is essentially vital itself, is the cause of vitahty in every organ of the body, is the sustaining power of life, is the substance from which alone all the wastes of the system daily and hourly taking place are replenished ; it is imposable to know what may be the consequences of altering or chemioally modifying, in the most minute degree, its normal constituent elements, and thus affecting its health-preserving, or healthrestoring power.

“That the constituents of blood are entirely dependent upon the nature of the food, is clearly proved by the fact, that transfusion of blood from a carnivorous animal, into the veins of a graminivorous animal, kills it ; and so if blood be transfused from a grass-feeding animal, into the circulation of a flesh-eating animal, the same result follows ; showing that there must be either a diversity in the proportion of the constituents of the blood, or else a diversity in the constitusnts themselves. Thus blood is peculiar in its vital properties; and is life-preserving, or life-destroying, and necessarily health-preserving, or health-destroying, if its constituents are diversified or modified.

“That the vast majority of disorders, acute and chronic, are blood disorders, admits of no doubt ; and the following significant passage which I quote, will at any rate be suggestive of what the consequences may be, from the slightest alteration of tho blood.

“ ‘ That the presence of a minute portion of any of these substances (alcohol, opium, &c., &c.) a portion almost too minute to be recognized by ordinary chemical processes, in the Uood wliich is

INJURIOUS ACTION pouring througli the capillaries of the brain, should so alter its relation as to produce results which manifest themselves in an entire change of the ordinary physical phenomena, must always he included, Ave apprehend, as a f undamental fact, in any theory that may he framed hy philosophers, who please themselves by speculating upon this mysterious question. The marked correspondence Avhich may be traced between the phenomena of Insanity, and those which are induced by the introduction of such substances into the blood, must not be overlooked in any attempt to arrive at the true pathology of the former condition, or to bring it within the domain of therapeutic art.’ ”

That by the direct introduction then of poisonous substances (opium, &c.) from without, affecting the constituent elements of blood, the due relation of that fluid to the structure of the brain, as the great nervous centre, is completely changed, and both the healthy mental and physical operations must be seriously interfered with ; either developing a particular form of Insanity, or else interrupting the ordinary physical functions of the body ; so with regard to the action of Mercury upon the blood, whose destructive influence is still more marked ; although the ill effects may not perhaps be immediately developed; but investigation Avill soon make the truth apparent that the hitherto hidden exciting cause, of a large number of organic changes, and blood disorders, is Mercury. When once the system has been under the influence of Mercury, there is always a liability to some one or other disorder ; the fixed ratio of the constituents of blood having been chemically altered, or modified by its action, the system either at once develops, from mercurial indtatiou, the most active and incurable forms of disorder, or may render the system susceptible to a groat number of complaints, only manifested years after. Hunter observes: “ The visible effects of Mercury on the constitution, arc to produce universal irritability, making the body more susceptible ot impressions ; it quickens the pulse, increases its hardness, producing a temporary kind of fever; but in many constitutions it exceeds this.

OF MEECTOT.

acting as it were as a Poisoti. But the question is not what particular disease may supervene upon this state of the system, hut whether the constitution is not rendered morbidly susceptible to ‘ impressions which would not otherwise obtain ? Whether it does not lay the foundation for the active development of almost every disease to which the human body is obnoxious ? Is the patient born of consumptive parents ? There is produced an increased flow of blood to the lungs ; then follows ii'ritability of the mucous membrane; there are then developed the dormant seeds (tubercles) in the acute form, of incurable Phthysis. Is the patient bom hereditarily predisposed to mental affections ? He is rendered doubly susceptible to the slightest exciting cause, and he becomes the inmate of an Asylum. Is he bom of Gouty or Eheumatic parents ? He is made a living Mercurial Barometer, subject to acute attacks of disease from every atmospheric change. Does he inherit that fearful state of blood arising from a Scrofulous Diathesis ? Then there is produced throughout the whole absorbent system, a morbid state of excitement, the fearful and unnumbered results of which who can foretel, and when developed, who can control or cure? These are not supposititious consequences of Mercurial action : the annals of

Medical History are but too truly and constantly filled with confirmations of such results.” How all this as a truth, is just as applicable to the etiology and phenomena of many other kinds of disorder, and ought to lead to a precisely similar object in the healing art ; that is, the purifying the blood ; by which metuis the proximate causes at least, would at onee be removed, and in proportion as this object was kept in view, would be the chances of correct Progno.sis, and the cfliciency of other remedial measures.

The objections to drag treatment I have based upon the following arguments.

“ That it is not a Science, because the principles upon which it is professed to be founded, have never been demonstrated, and arc not capable of demonstration.

“ That as an Art, there are no definite rules laid down, for the application of its materiel.

H oiUKcriONs

“That as a Practice no true or philosophical reason can he assigned for any drug treatment, nor any explanation given of the curative mode of action.

“ That this is proved by the theories of authors who have •written upon its principles, -which are purely hypothetical ; by the teachings of medical lecturers, which are constantly adverse to . each other ; and by the system of treatment adopted by different practitioners, in the use of its materiel which is often employed in a manner directly contrary in kind and effect in the same class of disorders.

“ That the constituent elements and mode of action of drugs are entirely unknown ; whether they directly influence the secretory functions through the medium of the nervous system, or whether their properties are conveyed by the blood to the organ to be acted upon, or whether the circulation in the organ be increased, diminished, or unaltered; or whether the agency of drugs be entirely chemical, physical, or otherwise.

“ That it is not known what changes drugs pass through in their uses ; or what functions their component parts severally perform in the infinite chemical processes that are every moment taking place in the body, where decom;positions and recompositions of organic substances are incessantly going on in a li-ving organism ; nor is it at all known what effects di’ug agencies have upon the chemical constitution of the fluids, of the soMs, or of the secretory vessels.

“ That as it is not known what are the special properties and separate constitutional elements of drugs, it is impossible to know what their chemical action is upon each other when combined, and taken into the body.

“ That no drug or combination of drugs can be prepared in which are inherent qualities, adapted to remove any pai-ticular disorder from an organ; and that if such a drug could be prepared, then in order to fulfil the accomplishment of its special power, it must be made to act upon that particular part of the body, and no other. .

“ That it is not known what relation their effects bear to causes of disorder, nor when, where, and how their action will terminate.

“That as it is not known, (and most probably never will be)

TO DETO TEEATMENT.

■what relation the minutest change in any one of the constituent elements of blood bears to the whole animal economy as regards disorder of the system ; it cannot be kno-wn what effect drugs may have when taken into the circulation, in still further altering that fluid, for there exists no medium of communication, nor any means by which a certain given action of drags can be truly demonstrated to be the specific action required.

“That the usual drag treatment of what Allopathists caU ‘Disease,'' is a practical denial that the most perfect work in Nature — Man — in all his li-mg, moving, thinking, sensitive operations, is governed by any laws at all ; but is alone, of all the works in Nature subject to the blind necessity of fate for its continuance in order and health ; and to a fortuitous combination of chemical accidents for restoration when disordered.

“That the comphcated, and unnatural treatment of the thing called ‘ Disease ’ by drugs, is opposed to the laws of vital constitution, as established necessarily from the nature of things, and associated with the organization of Man, has no relation to causes, and produces effects directly opposed to natural organic function, destroys the balance or hai’mony of functional action, chemically alters or modifies the fixed healthy ratio of the constituents of blood, depresses vital-force by their specific properties, by producing in the first place, irritation of organic tissue, and eventually, by their constant use, permanent alteration of organic structure.

“That the Mystery of Allopathy, or drag treatment of “Disease” is a failure, and cannot accomplish what its professors lay claim to, is proved by the unanswerable evidence of Tacts, — in the tens of thousands of suffering Incurables ; who are h'ving witnesses of the Science ( !) of Allopathy, and the -wisdom and skill of the Faculty.”

ALLOPATHY A FAILtrSE.

ALLOPATHY, HOMffiOPATHY, HYDEOPATHY.

allopath;y.

Allopathy, Homoeopatliy, Hydropathy, are the three names given to the three different systems, or methods of cure for all the physical sufferings mankind are liable to, the Practitioners of the first two methods respectively believing their own system to be the only true one, and denouncing the other as an error or something ■worse. As far as the medical controversy between the Allopathists and Homoeopathists is concerned, it appears to be settling do-wn into a mere confiict of words or assertions between the two parties ; ■without either of the parties considering that a simple contradiction in words is no practical confutation of a system. The Allopathists should know that Time and a host of Incurables have -written against their system — ^Failure ; and that it is too late in the present day, to endeavour to influence the public mind either by sneeis or reckless assertions ; for it is becoming too enlightened by the Public Press on most subjects, and therefore too capable of judging, to be led easily astray by any mere assumption of exclusive luiowlcdge and skill on the part of the purely orthodox Practitioner. No doubt the great majority of persons at present believe every thing that is asserted of Allopathy, but there are also a vast number of persons who believe nothing of it; the first may be called the disciples of

AXLOPAtllY A FAILTmE.

credulity, wlio rest on custom and tradition, and tlie greater part of these never think for themselves, even if they are capable of doing so ; and moreover fortunately have never been called upon for an exercise of theii- faith in Allopathic infallibility. The second, ■who believe nothing of the Allopathic Mystery, are those 'who, unfortunately for themselves, have proved the fallaey of the Art, and are paying the penalty, and -will do so probably for the remainder of their lives, as suffering Ineurables ; and ai-e often consoled, or attempted to be so, by the expression that their afflictions are the consequences of Providential dispensations, and submission is their duty. hTo'W this phrase, pro"vidential dispensation, or appointment, is a mere figure of speech — a cant expression of the day ; it is not believed in at all practically ; and it does not require two grains of common sense to detect the hypocrisy of it. If they really believed in their sufferings as a providential appointment, submission 'wordd be a positive duty, and they ought not to try and get ■well ; and moreover, it ■would be useless, for ■what is appointed in Providenee must be right ; besides the struggle ■would be foolish and fruitless, as opposing utter impotency against absolute pO'wer ; but as there is a constant striving and anxiety to get well-, it is a practical refutation of their o^wn profession or creed. With the very fe^w, no doubt, the expression is sincere, and they mean "what they say ; but then they have never thought upon the "whole subject of life, health, and disease. They kno'w nothing of the human organization, of the la'ws associated "with the body, nor the true principles upon "which disorders should be treated when they arise, as a necessary consequence of the infringement of thoSc Wsj it matters not ■whether in ignorance or wilfulness, whetlicr in a work of benevolence and from the highest principles, or in the most degrading pursuits and purely from selfish motives; the stem anjl unrelenting laws of Nature admit no excuse, and will exact the penalty precisely in the same manner and degree from the best as from the worst. There is no excuse accepted ; man is never as it were sent back unscathed to try again— to liavo a second chance ; there can be no mistake, we play against those laws for

ALLOPATHY A FAILtTEE.

health and life, and the penalty is inexorably exacted. Every law infringed, whether in the body or out of the body, has its own appropriate penalty; and we often apparently pay dearer for the smallest transgressions of the organic or physical laws, than from the most flagrant and deliberate violations of the moral laws, in the indulgence of animal passions and appetites. But if health be worth a thought, and we ponder on the subject, it should be to understand somewhat of its nature; not merely to talk about it, or theorize upon it as a speculation, but to learn how to live so as to avoid disorder and enjoy health. I believe that every one, to a very great extent, has his own healthy or unhealthy condition in his own hands ; and that it does not follow, because so vast a number of persons are dragging out a life of pain and wretchedness, both mentally and physically, that these are Providential appointments, they are merely the necessary penalties associated with the mfraction of natural laws.

As the usual termmation of drug treatment is failure, and most commonly an induction of increased disorder, it follows as a natural sequence from the constitutional natare of mankiud, that other means will be resorted to by the incurable to get rehef; and this, setting aside the mere canting professions of persons about Providential appointments, is taking a common-sense and practical view of the subject, and therefore means apparently more simple are adopted. But whether the Homoeopathic globules, or even at times the Hydropathic baths are employed, still there are thousands left incurable, to bear their ills as best they may. It becomes then a question of deep interest to invalids, (for they are the persons really concerned in the matter,) to consider whether the true method of treatment or rather management of disorder has not been overlooked, in the assumption on the part of practitioners, that a curative power resides either in the AUopatliic dose, the Hommopathic globule, or the Hydropathic bath, and thus altogether ignoring the groat truth, that “ nature cures all diseases;” and that whatever means are used they can be but mere auxiliaries (even w^hen most correctly applied) to assist nature’s ciuative efforts. If every trace

ALLOPATHY A PAILHRE.

of interest or prejudice could be taken away from tbe minds of Medical Men, then there would be some chance of an approximation towards unity of opinion, on a subject that must from the very nature of things be to a very extent purely speculative, and some degree of practical truth might thus be obtained as a basis upon which to erect a system of treatment, whose piinciples would be applicable to every disordered condition of the body ; but unfortunately for poor sufferers, this principle holds good in medical matters as in all others, that practice depends upon habits and interests, and not upon the honest convictions of our minds as the results of reason and reflection. Men think (if at all) in a certain mode, because their practice is of a certain kind, and then invent theories, or express opinions as a defence of the practice. Now I am one of those persons that believe it to be the duty of everyone that can think to think for himself, and not to be led away by the mere dogmas of any school or sect, and adopt second-hand the speculative opinions of any teacher or professor, however apparently learned. It is better to think wrongly, than not think at all. To pin one’s faith to the sleeve of any talking oracle, or lay hold of the skirts of any dogmatic teacher, is the certain way of being crammed fuU with the impositions of craft.