The hydropathic encyclopedia : a system of hydropathy and hygiene ... / By R.T. Trall, M.D.

Date:
1877
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The hydropathic encyclopedia : a system of hydropathy and hygiene ... / By R.T. Trall, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    all ages. These topics, therefore, present themselves as forming q pertinent introduction to this work. Many of the histo)»-<>! data relative to these subjects are collected from Bostock's Historj of Medicine and Bell's work on Baths and the Water Regimen. In the application and generalization of these data, and in relation to the principles to which they refer, I have, however, differed often and wide'y from these authors Mi I 3BT OF MEDICINE. Writers generally agree that medicine first became a profession among the Egyptians. Its origin, however, is involved in fabulous and impenetrable obscurity. In Egypt and in most of the earlier nations the priests were the practitioners of the healing art; and unfortunate was it for the human race when medicine was elevated to the dignity of a distinct profession. To me the priest appears to be the proper person to teach the body as well as the soul the straight and narrow way. The functions of mind and body are so intimately related, all the powers of the one and organs of the other constantly acting and reacting on each other, that I cannot imagine how it is possible for the spiritual or physiological teacher to do full justice to man in either re- lation of his existence without understanding the laws of both. Nay, I would have the same person exercise the function of priest, doctor, iawyer, and schoolmaster; and that individual who can present to his fellow-creatures the most harmonious whole of a human being—who can best teach in theory, and most faithfully exemplify in practice, the laws of being in his moral, physiological, legal, and social relations, should belong to the learned profession and be a leader among men. The Earliest Ancient Physicians.—The Egyptian priests prac- ticed the healing art by means of magical incantations, which, of yourse, produced their good or bad impressions through the medium of the imagination, the efficacy of their prescriptions bearing a pretty exact ratio to the superstition and credulity of their patients. The medical practice of the Assyrian priests consisted mainly of magical aits, while the actual learning they possessed was carefully concealed ra a mystical technicality. Among the early Jews the priests, who were the physicians also, treated the leprosy and other diseases with various ceremonies to affect the imagination, at the same time enforc- ing judicious regulations to avoid the sources of contagion, and promote personal cleanliness Til*. Earlt Gm« an Pura cians,—In Greece the genius of Hip