Volume 1

A textbook of practical medicine : with particular reference to physiology and pathological anatomy / by Felix von Niemeyer ; translated from the 8th German edition ... by George H. Humphreys and Charles E. Hackley.

  • Niemeyer, Felix von, 1820-1871.
Date:
1871
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A textbook of practical medicine : with particular reference to physiology and pathological anatomy / by Felix von Niemeyer ; translated from the 8th German edition ... by George H. Humphreys and Charles E. Hackley. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    XL tic experimentation to assume a direction destined to lead to great results. Rightly supposing that even the rude experience of the ignorant laity and their belief in the all-healing power of the cold-water cure and the bread cure have some foun- dation in fact, the effects both of hydropathic treatment and that of the continued limitation of the supply of water to the sys- tem have been subjected to rigid analysis. Such laudable abne- gation of sectarian pride has'been richly rewarded. Among other results, we owe to it our more accurate knowledge of the effect produced by active abstraction of heat upon the tempera- ture of the body in acute febrile disease. This alone is a great achievement. By its means, a weapon, powerful for good in time of peril, is taken from the hands of the laity, where it has done much harm, and, under control of educated and experienced men, who know its capacity and how to regulate its effect, it has become the common property of science. It is a favorable sign that the warm recognition and support formerly enjoyed by tho so-called doctrine of Rademacher—that wonderful offspring of a clear perception of the errors and failings of traditional therapeutic rules, and of blind submission to the obsolete teach- ings of Paracelsus—have become extinct; and still better, that the number of pure and devout homoeopaths, who, implicitly trusting in homoeopathic tenets and doses, make no use of the developments of therapeutic research, has grown small. May these words, and the contents of my book, aid clinical investigation in pursuing more and more the path by which alone its immediate and main object—the establishment of thera- peutic facts—is to be attained! In conclusion, I tender my cordial thanks to my numerous friends and patrons for their favor; especially to my honored friend and colleague Professor Seitz, of Giessen, for the good counsel with which he has assisted me in the preparation of mv new edition. (Signed) Felix von ISTiemeyer. Tübingen, October, 18GT