The analytical system of medicine, or, The treatment of disease according to the principles and requirements of nature / by J. Clawson Kelley.

  • Kelley, John Clawson, 1793-1863.
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The analytical system of medicine, or, The treatment of disease according to the principles and requirements of nature / by J. Clawson Kelley. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    condition of the system, that many individuals become discour- aged, considering the whole science as similar in character, re- solve to use no medicine at all, and to let nature take its course. Such a course, however, may not always be the best. A little reflection on the facts which the subject presents may therefore not be amiss. What is the Science of Medicine now, and what has it ever been? We enter upon this inquiry with the most candid feeling. We have no prejudices to subserve, no theory to sustain, and shall give no statement unsubstantiated by known and admitted facts. Since medicine was first introduced to the world as a science, by Hippocrates, upwards of two thousand years ago, it has un- dergone many important changes. It would seem that the principal variations made in the theo- ries of physicians have arisen from a desire to overthrow the popularity of each other ; with but little regard, if any, to the remedies likely to prove the most useful in disease ; for although they have altered their theories many times, their medicines have with scarcely an exception been the same, or of the same character, at least, for the last three hundred years. From the time of Hippocrates to the time of Paracelsus (a period of about 1700 years), the practice of Medicine was con- fined to vegetable agents, during which time many distinguished physicians lived, among whom were iEsclepiades, Celsus and Galen. As it is medicine that is designed for the patient's benefit, in- stead of arbitrary and conflicting theories, it becomes by far the most important individual consideration. What cares a patient whether he be attended by a dogmatical or an empirical physi- cian, so medicines are administered which will cure him, and leave no evil consequences behind for the future injury of the system.