Morisoniana, or, Family adviser of the British College of Health : being a collection of the works of Mr. Morison, the hygeist ... Forming a complete manual for individuals and families, for every thing that regards preserving them in health and curing their diseases ... With an appendix, containing a short treatise on ... small pox.

  • Morison, James, 1770-1840.
Date:
1831
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Morisoniana, or, Family adviser of the British College of Health : being a collection of the works of Mr. Morison, the hygeist ... Forming a complete manual for individuals and families, for every thing that regards preserving them in health and curing their diseases ... With an appendix, containing a short treatise on ... small pox. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    Th<? Public should likewise be informed, that some of the dvplomcCd faculty have become secret converts to the Hygeian System—not by prescribing the Universal Medicines to their patients, but by using them for themselves and families, and some by written acknowledgments—evincing, by this, the insufficiency of their own system ! Indeed, what can be more preposterous, or shew more the deep-rooted preju- dices of the age, than to suppose there is any talismanic virtue in a diploma—earned principally by fees, and some years' atten- dance on absurd and insipid Lectures at Medical Rooms. The silence, too, behind which they now intrench themselves, instead of coming candidly forward, either in defence of their practice, or allowing their errors, shews their dread, and how much they despair in encountering the British College of health ; and we may depict them, by using a saying proverbial in Catholic coun- tries—that they dread the Hygeists as the Devil does holy water. Thus has the British College of Health, in the short space of two years, reared its head far above the faculty of the old school, and made proselytes to their system in an unprecedented manner. Why ? Because their system is comprehensible, and their practice natural to all. They now call upon the public to assist them in their future operations, to interfere and petition the Legis- lature, that one class of men may not have the power to kill or torture thousands of their fellow citizens with impunity, whilst one patient dying under the treatment of others, subjects them to a criminal prosecution.—There ought to be no monopoly in such a science, which only engenders ignorance and self-conceit. Mankind should be left to judge for themselves who treats them best, and not have absurdities forced upon them, merely because they are dictated by men who have got Diplomas. These laws originated in times of ignorance and barbarity, and now require alteration. The point at issue should be decided by fair competi- tion and skill. Mankind are not now as in the days of monastic ignorance and superstition, and will soon discover who treats them best, without the aid of a College of Physicians, only upheld by exclusive charters—now become charters of abuse—