A fair examination and criticism of all the medical systems in vogue / by Alva Curtis.

  • Curtis, Alva, 1797-1881.
Date:
1875
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A fair examination and criticism of all the medical systems in vogue / by Alva Curtis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    PREFACE. The object of a preface is to give some account of, or reasons for, the pro- duction that follows, or the author’s motives for its publication. Ever since the true science of medicine was shadowed forth, by Dr. Samuel Thomson and other pioneers of reform, a constant crusade has been kept up against it by interested men, in the hope of rendering its doctrines and practices ridicu- lous and unpopular, and thus preventing that thorough regeneration of this noble science, which would greatly mitigate our sufferings, prolong our lives and multiply our pleasures. I say, by interested men, those who, having studied long and carefully, the various systems of error, and found them honorable and profitable in their practice, have been therefore unwilling to acknowledge their errors and the worthlessness of their labors, to give them up for truth, and to perform more labor for less profit, for the cause of science and humanity. Many friends of reform, and practitioners and teachers of medicine, have done what they could to develop its principles and illustrate its practice; but no one has yet attempted to furnish a full and safe defence of it, against the at- tacks of its enemies—especially has no one ventured to branch out from his own fortress of defence, and attack the enemy on the high seas of his own crazy craft, and to drive him into the whirlpools and the certain destruction into which he would gladly persuade us that we are most rapidly tending. Yet such a work is very much needed, and, though very conscious that his talents, his time and his circumstances all fall short of the magnitude and importance of the undertaking, the author has resolved to do what he can, in this hitherto little cultivated field; in the hope that it will be useful to phi- lanthropists of every character, grade and condition in life, till something better shall come forth to take its place. It is well known that the author has had a very large experience in the work of defending the cause of truth, science and humanity, and develop- ing ihe true principles of medical science. And he hopes to be better able to fulfill any expectations that may arise in other minds from this knowledge, than to satisfy himself that he has done all that he might have done under more favorable circumstances. One of the most difficult things in the world, as well as the most import- ant, to the sick man, is to ascertain what practice he should employ for the