A treatise on the nature, cause, cure, and prevention of disease in animals, horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, dogs, poultry, cage birds, silk worms, with practical illustrations of the medicinal and other uses of Hibbert's patent antiseptic solutions, &c

Front matter

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Med

IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.

Preface

V.

refrigerant which- could be conveniently, or safely applied in exhausting latent imflammatory or febrile action in the animal frame.

Nine years are now passed and gone since the discovery of the medicinal and other uses of the Antiseptic ; and in the Preface which follows, extracted from our preceding volume, on the Diseases of Human Beings, we have given a brief outline of the discovery, and noticed our longcontinued, persevering, and varied experiments. The system is now fairly established, on the firm basis of unanswerable and unquestionable testimony and experience.

The Remedy is novel — a combination of some of the most powerful articles included in the Materia Medica. The application is novel ; so that the Remedy and its application, are both original — the discovery our own, — and it stands single, alone, and independent, unlike every other Antiseptic Remedy or System in existence.

Oxygen is life ; without it we die. The following simple and comprehensive statement will furnish undeniable proof, that oxygen is the primary constituent of the various natural and material forms in this lower world ; that it pervades the whole, as the essential principle, or the necessary condition of being ; and that without its sustaining presence the human frame would instantly sink collapsed and inanimate.

The Antiseptic Remedy preserves and restores pristine vigour and healthy functional action in the human frame — thus aiding the operations of nature within it in the work of extracting from the daily aliment and the circumambient air the essential primary principles of life and being.

Outline of the Chemistry of Oxygen. — The wide diffusion and the importance of oxygen in nature’s economy, may be judged of when it is stated that of the whole crust of the globe, including animals and plants, oxygen constitutes from one-half to two-thirds. This statement may appear surprising ; but let us call to mind one or two facts. Let U3 consider’ the amount of water on the face of the globe to begin with — the extent of the atmosphere, the proportion of clay, of flint, and of lime. Now, every nine parts by weight of water contains eight by weight of oxygen. Every e*ghtjr-eight parts by weight of atmospheric air, contains thirty-two parts by weight of oxygen ; of flint, about one-half, or oxygen of lime about twofifths ; of clay, about one-third ; therefore we may roughly say, that of the ordinary compounds, one-half their material is oxygen.

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Amount of Oxygen in the World.

( Principles '

Animal j Phosphate of Lime ... J •

( Water $

( Silica ^

Mineral 1 AJumina |

( Lime £

Therefore Oxygen - is $ or jj of the Globe.

For the performance of respiration, fermentation, and combustion, no less than four billions of pounds of oxygen are required daily ; and at least double that amount, if we include all the natural operations to the performance of which oxygen is necessary.

FROM OUR TREATISE ON THE DISEASES OF HUMAN BEINGS, REFERRED TO ABOVE.

Whilst disclaiming all and any intention or desire to undervalue the labours and general intelligence of gentlemen engaged in the medical profession, their responsibility for the present deplorable state of the practice (which has become profoundly complicated, and the results alarmingly uncertain) must not be overlooked.

The greatly increased and still increasing proportion of deaths ; the lengthened period under treatment of those who recover ; and the lamentable failure to grapple successfully with epidemic, contagious, and many other forms of disease, are too painfully evident to be seriously questioned.

Hence the appointment of commissions of inquiry and constitution of boards of health, sanitary associations, and other institutions, with a like object, in all our great centres of population : — all evidences of a deep and growing conviction, in the mind of the public, of the imperative necessity for the introduction of some less complicated and more efficacious mode of treatment, by which the present alarming state of things may be arrested, and future success in the treatment of disease be made more uniform and certain.

It may, 'therefore, be presumed, that any discovery having for its object, and being really calculated to supply such an important desideratum, may fairly claim, and ought to obtain, the earnest attention and serious consideration of all who sincerely desire to see a diminution

PREFACE.

Yii.

of human suffering, and a prolongation of the average duration of human life.

The great want of the profession undoubtedly is, a quick and powerful, yet safe and certain antidote to decomposition, which forms the base of all disease ; and the object of this treatise is to explain and make known the nature and operation of such an antidote, the inherent chemical properties of which are eminently calculated to supply this great want . and although taught, by practical experience, not to despise the difficulties, or under-estimate the cost involved, in pushing to a successful issue the introduction of so novel and comprehensive a reform in the theory and practice of medicine ; still, being so simple in its application, general in its adaptation, and uniform in its results, the author feels morally bound to continue such efforts as may be necessary for its introduction to the profession — seeing that its own intrinsic merits must eventually overcome all difficulties, whether they may arise from prej udioe, established usage, or vested interest.

The most advanced medical science teaches that, in the living organism, chemical, physical, and mechanical effects are constantly influenced, modified, and altered, by the quasi dominant power of the vital principle.

Vital power — the vis medicalrix naturce — is more powerful than the physician in the cure of disease ; whose art consists, in most cases, in stimulating and aiding, by the remedy he prescribes, the action of that power. We are, at the same time, conscious of the existence of a preserving principle, constantly watching over the harmony of the functions ; and struggling against all the powers that may tend to interrupt the free exercise of, or annihilate, vital action.

We may here state that the discovery of the medicinal properties of this Antiseptic was the result of a previous discovery of its extraordinary power in preventing and arresting decomposition, or mildew, in cotton fabrics, and other vegetable matters. Having observed the nature of its action in this direction, the possibility that it might probably act in a similar manner if applied to animal matter suggested itself ; and, therefore, a series of experiments were made — first with bone size, fresh, and in various stages of decomposition ; — also with fresh and tainted beef, mutton, rancid bacon, butter, and other animal matters ; — and these experiments, to our great surprise, developed another most important feature in its action, viz., that of its being a most complete, instantaneous, and effectual deodoriser and disinfectant ; as well as its equally remarkable power in preventing and arresting, in all, or any of its stages, decomposition in animal matter.

Consequently, after a careful examination of the extraordinary results of these experiments upon inanimate matter ; and, after due consideration,

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PREFACE.

seeuig no valid reason why the Antiseptic should not, if applied act in a lZilZtsDeri>P0D “ UP°n inanimate matter — another series of

Imt Z T pe5SOn“Carefully n0ting the results; «»en upon our mily, and any ailing friends willing to try it. Here, again, the results

seri! Sf S-Ve and UUif°rmly faVourab,e> that a still more extended series of experiments were at onee commenced.

Subjects for experiments were sought out in airdirections ; the nature their complaints was ascertained, and they were requested to try it. lauy shook their heads despairingly, when intimating they had tried everything and found no relief ; and therefore it was all in vain— theirs being a hopeless case. Nevertheless, a promise to supply the Remedy with instructions for its use, free of charge, on condition that they would fep0rt "he result> Aether favourable or otherwise, and an assurance that, 1 did them no good, it could do them no harm— was almost uniformly successful in insuring a trial.

These experimental trials, for which five hundred bottles were distributed, and which included almost all kinds of disease, extended over a penod of five years, previous to offering it for sale. At the same time

numerous experiments were being made upon various kinds of .animals

including horses, cows, sheep, pigs, dogs, poultry, &c. ; which also included a great variety of diseases to which animals are subject ; and these experiments were shown to be equally as successful as those made on human beings.

At this stage, and with the view of ascertaining whether the results of my own experiments would be confirmed, or otherwise, by the profession, a number of medical gentlemen and veterinary surgeons were freely and liberally supplied with sufficient quantities of the Antiseptic Solutions for the purpose of testing their merits in then- ewn practice : — and for their candid and uniformly favourable (verbal) reports, we feel bound here to xpress our gratitude.

These reports include also a great variety of diseases of a febrile and inflammatory nature, arising from morbid fermentive action in the human system.

The results of our own experiments being so uniformly and agreeably confirmed, we proceeded to visit several of the hospitals in Manchester, Liverpool, and London ; when the nature and properties of the Antiseptic were fully explained to the resident medical officer. A twelve month’s supply for hospital purposes was offered, free of charge ; which offer was uniformly, but politely, declined ; and only in one instance, viz., one of the London hospitals, were they induced to make even a trial of it.

Farther, upwards of two hundred of the most respectable chemists in the principal streets and thoroughfares of the metropolis were called upon,

PREFACE, explained, so that eac to whom i.« J4-o ?r*trinaTf> TUfiritS.

duration of human life.

Our theory is, that febrile or inflammatory action— dependmg on a misdirection of nervous irritability, in deficiency or in excess— and rudimentary fermentive decomposition is the basis, or initiatory process, w nearly all

Putrefactive fermentation is the spontaneous decomposition of such animal and vegetable matters as exhale a foetid smell. The solid and the fluid matters are resolved into gaseous compounds and vapours, which escape and unite in earthy residuum.

The requisites to this process are : — First, a certain degree of humidity , second, the access of atmospheric air ; third, a certain degree of heat : hence the abstraction of the air and water, or humidity, by drying, or its fixation by cold— by salt, sugar, spices, or Antiseptic compounds, will counteract the process of putrefaction, and favour the preservation of animal and vegetable substances— whether deprived of life, or existing in the living organism.

On dissection in typhus fever, the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestinal tube, and often the muscular and peritoneal coats, present, here and there, spots of various sizes — the effects of inflammatory action, and are subgangrenous and purporaceous in appearance ; which is neither more nor less than rudimentary putrefaction. Is it not clear, then, to demonstration, that a powerful Antiseptic and absorbent, timeously administered, must have the inherent power to cut off the disease at the very commencement-sparing the patient all the suffering consequent on leaving the disease to run. through the conventional stages, as is usual in the everyday medical treatment of the faculty ? Does this not hold equally true in every disorder, attended by febrile or inflammatory symptoms 1 Who, diseases.

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PREFACE.

B«,id«, the Remedy conSrm, or reetore, „ |„,,U1„ wo.

and normal functional action — or condition.

Above all, the uac of our Remedy induces and confirms the enjoyment of, and the benefits accruing from, a good habit of body ; which as regards the equine tribe is expressed by the well-known term condition ■ and we may conveniently and appropriately apply it to thd human family.

obHterbvethePirfeCti0n ? the mental a“d Phy8iCal P°WerS is Parity

obtained by the due apportionment of the constituent elements of muscular fibre bone, smew, the blood-current, the cellular and medullary substances anc issue, &c„ &c ; and the more these substances are condensed— within the limits prescribed by healthy natural and normal constitution-the greater the amount of power which will exist in a given bulk. We must, therefore, endeavour to supplement the efforts of nature, where defective by eliminating the superfluity of the elements conducing to the production of achpose substance. _ Much may be effected by attention to dietetics ; but

won? !dyia- mihe.rent p0wer of supplementing whatever may be wanting to attain this desirable end. "

There are certain laws of nature indispensable to 'animal life, and certain functions must be supported. The nourishment of the body is derived by deposition, from the elements of the blood, and the two principal are serum and fi brine, Ihe serum, when inspissated or coagulated, forms albumen the restorative element of fat and muscular fibre ; and the fibrine, ready oimed in the blood, contributes largely to the formation of muscle or flesh.

Fat, muscular fibre, and the other substances composing the animnl frame, are constantly undergoing the process of exhaustion, through the effect of oxygen taken into the system every moment of life by means ot the organs of respiration.

No part of the oxygen remains in the body, as I have elsewhere shown • iut is expelled, in the form of carbon and hydrogen, by exhalations from the skm and the ordinary evacuations. By this process, the fat and muscular fibre are constantly undergoing the process of exhaustion and renewal, dependent, however, upon the amount of labour, and the uninterrupted health of the individual. The more expeditiously this renovation takes place, the more perfect will be the habit or condition of the subject.

But when the channels become overcharged; the blood-vessels distended upon the slightest appearance of the symptoms which indicate a disordered state of the circulation, the health is sure to suffer. General disorder including inflammatory action, as a precursor, or consequent — torpor, viscidity, or deliquescence — a depraved crasis of the blood and

PREFACE.

xi.

humours, their principles being destroyed, ensues ; and disease and suffering must progress apace, unless a suitable and timely remedy be applied. The absorbent vessels become overloaded, distended and relaxed ; the muscular system is debilitated ; and if prompt action be not resorted to, a depraved habit, not unfrequently, becomes constitutional. The system is replete with an adipose deposit, and the fluids destined to produce that substance ; and becomes overloaded with an unnatural and unnecessary incumbrance, inducing redundance, engorgement, and predominant plethora.

The energetic disposition — the pnmum mobile of the system — becomes deficient ; the energy, which is influenced by the nervous excitability of the brain, and the nervous system subsides ; and they must be restored by artificial means, to prevent their ultimate exhaustion ; — though it will take some time before the equilibrium and a healthy tone be regained under the most judicious treatment. '

However, the employment of my Remedy, by stimulating the action of the absorbents, will speedily exhaust plethora ; reduce the adipose deposit ; oxygenise, and, by its salient constituents, correct the abnormal crasis of the blood-current and humours; relieve the overcharged vessels; substitute firmness of texture for relaxation ; and restore a healthy and robust habit of body — condition, if you will — to replace relaxation, enervation, and obesity.

Now our important .discovery justifies us in speaking plainly — without reserve or reticence.

Oxygen is life — without it we die. Hence, oxydise the blood ; supply the necessary saline constituents ; purify the sytem — and live.

We have been careful to explain the inherent power of the Antiseptic in arresting and subduing febrile and inflammatory action ; and have dwelt on its irresistible influence in checking morbid activity, while remarking on the treatment and cure of the various diseases to which the human frame is subject. It will be found a reliable febrifuge and refrigerant ; and an unequalled Antiseptic and anodyne. As a styptic, detergent, and deodoriser, it is invaluable in all cases of cancer, ulcer, open wounds, and running sores. As an alterative, tonic, and restorative, it is without a rival. It acts powerfully in seconding the efforts of nature in conserving and reinvigorating the human frame ; and, after thorough impregnation, fortifies the system against the insidious attacks of disease from without, whilst it frees it from the malignant action of morbific influences from within.

As a preventive and remedy in consumption and pulmonary complaints, the Antiseptic Medicine, in connection -with the Patent Auxiliary Lung Respirator, supplies a complete and reliable system of prevention and cure—

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Sll.

defying tlie deadly attacks of the most terrible and dominant enemy of the people of the British Islands. In our moist and uncertain climate, we have succeeded in providing the certain means of escaping and repelling the insidious attacks of pulmonary disease ; and in case of a visitation from this ruthless tyrant of our climate and people, we offer a cheap and reliable Remedy and restorative ; whose inherent power will assert its supremacy on all occasions, if administered in strict conformity to the instructions to be found in the Table of Treatment and Illustrative Cases.

Any professional man or patient who may consult this work, after perusing the portion applicable to the case in hand, should thereafter go to the Appendix, and read over the Illustrative Case or Cases of the same class, which are given as examples for his guidance.

DISEASES OF ANIMALS.