The family medical guide : designed for the use of parents, nurses, and emigrants, those not within the reach of medical aid and all who value health containing in addition to a popular physiological treatise the symptoms, rational treatment and means for the prevention of disease with a view to the exposure of the dangerous tendencies of the present system of medical practice appended are valuable medical statistics

Front matter

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THE FAMILY MEDICAL GUIDE. .

BY MGDICUS.

Preface

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I am well aware of the censure I shall incur from the “ faculty,” and others interested in upholding the present system of medical practice, in writing this treatise ; but having seen, in the course of many years experience, the unbounded mischief produced by their unnatural system, I consider it a moral duty to expose, to the utmost of my abilities, their nefarious practices. I wish, for the sake of humanity, I could find a less harsh term to express myself, but errors I cannot call them, for hundreds of them know, as well as myself, it is wrong, hut for the sake of their own and their families interest are compelled to adhere to the orthodox method.

I thank God I am free from such influences, and even were I not, would expose myself to any risk, rather than see hundreds of my fellow beings annually cut off in the prime of life (causing misery and want to thousands more), iv

than countenance such a base and absurd

system

Often has my mind revolted, whilst in the exercise of my professional duties, at the pain and misery caused by the application of those three great scourges of humanity, — Mercury , the Knife , and the Lancet. I felt it was erroneous, and subsequent experience has verified it, and often have I resolved to use my utmost endeavours to free the world of their revolting uses.

Although the Practice of Medicine is my legitimate Profession, and for years my only means of subsistence, so disgusted am I with its principles, that until some purer system is established, never will I again enter its pale, but will endeavour to atone for the mischief I have inadvertently done.

In the course of this Treatise, I shall recommend a preparation (where experience justifies me in doing so), the component parts of which I am totally ignorant, hut I consider it the only true philanthropy to recommend and use such articles that I know will alleviate suffering humanity, with the least amount

V of inconvenience and pain, whether I am acquainted with their composition or not. Although I have discarded the presen t system of medical practice, I still pursue the study, for I consider it the highest glory of man to be able to relieve the sufferings of his fellow creatures.

Volume upon volume has been written upon these subjects, hut the authors have all had some selfish intent in view, either recommending some specific, lauding some friend, or other matter of aggrandisement, hut my only object in writing this is to benefit my fellow men, and to open their eyes to the dangers to which they are daily and hourly exposed.

Should this be the means of alleviating but one sufferer, or should it only be the means of inducing the public to look more to the cause than to the effect of disease, I shall consider myself amply rewarded.

From personal considerations I am induced to withhold my name, and subscribe myself

MEDICUS.

London, 1853.

Introduction

From time immemorial, the cure of disease has been the constant study of man ; because anything that interferes with the ordinary and regular course of nature produces a corresponding degree of pain and misery to him ; consequently, those who studied the alleviation of suffering humanity, and became skilled in the art, were looked upon with a degree of reverence and awe.

In ancient times, the study of medicine was pursued from feelings of philanthropy, combined with a certain degree of ambition ; but as civilization advanced, and men’s minds became narrowed and selfish, the finer feeling of our nature were usurped by the coarser ones of self interest and gain; the demon Mammon trod under foot true philosophy, and produced a prolongation of suffering, and engrafted upon the constitution ills that were previously unknown.

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The ancient system was truly far preferable to the modern, for then was used only such things as bountiful nature provided ; and ought it not to shock us, that nature has been so perverted, as to change useful, innocent substances into baneful and noxious poisons ? It has often been (and justly) remarked, that the ancients were far more successful in the treat ment of diseases than the moderns ; the reason is plain — they looked for the cause , which they treated, hut the moderns look at the effect , not the cause , consequently are less successful.

The treatment I shall recommend will he what I have found most beneficial, from experience. Where I know the principles of Allopathy to he right, I will recommend them ; where Hydropathy, Homoeopathy, or any of the many practices now in vogue, those I will recommend also.

I am no enthusiast, no sectarian, no empiric, but the truth of my statements I leave the world to verify.

It is from no personal motives I write this, for if every copy is sold at the nominal price it is published at, the remuneration would be

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small ; and as it is intended chiefly for gratuitous distribution, the profit will be still smaller, in fact no profit at all. All I wish is, to lay down a system of practice intelligible to the meanest capacity, that the public (and especially that portion who can least afford it), instead of flying, in case of every ache and pain, to a medical man (which generally ends in impoverishing the pocket and retarding the restoration to health), may have a resource in time of need, upon which they may rely, and which will, with God’s blessing, be the means of restoring to health and happiness thousands of my fellow beings.

I have entirely omitted every thing that might be considered objectionable even by the most fastidious. I wish this work to be of that nature, that every family may have it, and every member be allowed to read it. I do not wish it to have that hole-and-corner perusal which numberless volumes, headed " Secret Sorrow,” “ Comfort for the Afflicted, ” &c., &c. have, and which are so disgusting to every right-feeling mind, that they cannot be introduced into a family without producing the

IX most demoralizing effects. I wish it a worldwide circulation, and pride myself the severest critic will not find in it the most remote cause for censure as to its morality, whatever may he its deficiency in other respects ; and should I not have been sufficiently explicit in any part, although I withhold my name, any communication, addressed to me at the publishers, will be duly answered, without fee or reward. Here let me remark, that all the recipes given are from the highest authorities, and which 1 have had numberless opportunities of testing, and can vouch for their efficacy.

Index

Anatomy of the Human Body

Apoplexy

Asthma

Ague

Bones, The

Blood, The

Brain, The

Breasts, The

Bladder, The

Bronchocele

Blood, Spitting of ... .

Bleeding from the Nose

Burns

Bruises

Blotches in the Face .

Consumption

Cancer

Convulsions

Colic

Croup, The

Coup de Soleil

Costiveness

Chicken Pox

Cramp

Contagion

Colds in General ....

Corns

Chilblains