The Philosophy of the Bath: Or, Air and Water in Health and Disease ... - Durham Dunlop - Google Bøger

Bøger

Billeder på siden

With disinterested zeal you have devoted much time and money to extend the benefits of the Bath among the poor. More especially you have been earnest in your exertions to have the Bath made available for the treatment of the helpless sick in our Hospitals, Asylums, and Workhouses. Your endeavours, in this respect, entitle you to the gratitude of the humane; and though, from the apathy of those in authority, your exertions have only been as yet partially successful, it is to be hoped a more enlightened and Christian policy will soon prevail.

In writing on the subject of the Bath, I have felt it was but a simple act of justice to truthfully record the greatness of the obligations the cause of humanity is under to you, and I only express the feelings of all who rightly appreciate the value of your labours in hoping you may long continue to enjoy the elevated position you have so worthily won.

With sincere respect,

I am yours, faithfully,

SPAFIELD, Holywood, August, 1868.

DURHAM DUNLOP.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.

SECTION I.-The case stated-Health, bodily and mental, its import-

ance- -Ignorance of "Educated classes" concerning the science

of life a main cause of Medical Empiricism

SECTION II.-Opposition of the Medical Profession to New Truths—

The Priest Physicians of the Pagans and Christians-Hippocrates

-Division of Medicine into Surgery, Physic, and Pharmacy, a

great source of corruption and evil-Medical Knowledge-Its

constituent parts, Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Hygiene,

and Therapeutics-Distinction between Medicine as a Science,

and the mere Art of Physic-Opinions of Medical authorities

SECTION III. Popular belief respecting Medical qualifications-

Facts concerning present condition of the Medical profession—

The Medical Act of 1858-The General Council: its defective

administration-Deplorable condition of Medical Education-

The Licensing bodies-Their numerous licenses and titles reject-

ed by Army and Navy as no test of qualification—Opinions of

Medical authorities on shameful state of the profession, and

destructive character of Medical practice...

SECTION IV.-Medical Schools and Colleges-Special Hospitals-

General incapacity of teachers-Reaction on the Profession-

Opinions of Medical authorities on the subject

SECTION V.-Value of Medical Opinion considered — Experience

alone an unsafe criterion to judge by-Great knowledge consis-

tent with gross ignorance-Scientific experience testifies against

Drug Medication-Admissions of High Medical Authorities, Sir

John Forbes, Sir Thomas Watson, etc., concerning the Inutility

of Drugging-The Helpless Condition of the Drug School ...

SECTION VI.-The general character of Medical Practice-High

authorities quoted-Successive variations-Conscientiousness no

palliation for the evils caused by Drug Practitioners-Perversity

of medical men in rejecting natural Therapeutic Agents—Their

revival and successful progress not withstanding medical oppo-

sition-Honest inquirers become zealous advocates-Conclusion.

The term "Hydropathy"-Its accepted meaning-Hydropathy a

Science-Its agents irreconcilable with those of the Physic

School-Mineral Poisons unknown in ancient Medicine-Their

introduction by Paracelsus-Hydropathy as practised by the

Ancients-Hippocrates, his use of Hydropathic agents-His

successors, the Greek and Roman Physicians-Use of cold water

in disease in Africa, Asia, and Europe-First works on Hydro-

pathy in the sixteenth century-Progress during the seventeenth

century-Practice general over Europe early in eighteenth cen-

tury-Its great curative success-Decline of its practice-Again

revived at the close of eighteenth century- Dr. Currie and other

Hydropathists-Opposition of Medical Practitioners—Again falls

into disuse-Revival by Priessnitz-Rapid extension over Europe

Its success and permanent establishment-Authorities confirma-

tive of its principles and practice

Origin of Warm Bathing-Thermal Springs used by the Priest-

Physicians-Converted into Baths by various nations—Origin of

the Hot-Air Bath-Its existence in Greece, etc.-The Early

Roman Baths-The Hot-Air Bath adopted from the Greeks-

The magnificent Baths of the Roman Emperors-Knowledge of

the Bath carried to Britain-Decline and Destruction of the Bath

in Rome and Western Europe-Is preserved in Asia, Africa, &c.

-Descriptions of the Baths of the Russians, Fins, Egyptians,

Intertropical Africans, Chinese, Japanese, North American In-

dians, &c., and of the Irish-The universality of the Hot-Air

Bath conclusive as to its utility to Mankind

The Bath in Britain after the departure of the Romans-Its subse-

quent destruction-The Baths of Europe during the Middle

Ages-Early advocates of the revival of the Roman Bath—Apa-

thy of Medical Men-The story of its ultimate revival and

successful establishment-Opposition of Drug practitioners-

The Bath the perfection of Hydropathic practice

The Physiology of Life-Its Departments, the Mechanical, Intellec-

tual, and Nutritive-Primary Importance of Healthy Nutrition.

Nutrition-The Blood: its Circulation the main source of Nutrition

—Its impurity a source of Disease -The Excretory Organs:

action of Bath thereon

The Skin-Its structure and uses-Its functions essential to Life. ..

The Skin considered in relation to Animal Heat-Its susceptibility of

being made a Curative Agent in Disease..

The action of the Bath as Preservative of Health, and Preventive of

Disease-It subdues evils arising from artifical habits of civilized

life, and corrects, eradicates, or checks inherited predispositions

The Bath as a Curative Agent-The value of Temperature-Popular

errors concerning Heat and Cold-Ignorance of Medical Men

respecting the Therapeutical properties of Temperature-The

Bath as a Therapeutic-It should not be employed in conjunction

with Drug remedies-Its general applicability to alleviate all

forms of bodily derangements

Ignorance of Disease by the Drug School-Proofs afforded by the

London Physicians-This ignorance the basis of Drug Practice--

Disease as a remedial effort of Nature is subject to fixed and

discoverable laws-Opinions thereon-Mal-Nutrition the source

of all Established Disease-Evils arising from Medical Nosology

All Disease naturally divisible into Organic and Functional, and

has its primary source in imperfect or perverted nutrition

The natural test of what can prove remedial in disease-Remedies

must harmonise with Nature-Effects of Food and Drugs con-

trasted-Nature's operations in Disease-The true office of the

enlightened Physician-Deceptive teaching of Drug Schools-

Alleged change of Type in Disease-The theory that Disease

forms part of the plan of Creation-Effects of Drugs in producing

new forms of bodily derangements, distinguished as "Drug

Diseases"-A list of some of them-Medical authorities respect-

ing them-Suggestions by Sir John Forbes for the reform of

Practical Therapeutics-The evidence concerning the use of

Drugs in Disease summed up-Conclusions...

The difference between Hydropathy and Physic--The same sources of

knowledge open to both-The difference in the use made of

them-Physic practice not based on the truths disclosed by Phy-

siology and Pathology—Those truths perverted to sustain old

theories-Errors in Practice the result of Errors in Education-

Responsibility of Medical teachers-Erroneous Pathology-

Symptoms mistaken for diseases-Multiplication of diseases by

names- -Hydropathic and Physic practice contrasted in Fever

Opposition to new truths a characteristic of the medical profession-

Illustrations supplied by the cases of Harvey, Sydenham, Paré,

Jenner, Hunter, Sir Charles Bell, and the history of anesthetic

agents-The opposition to the Bath of the same character

The animus of the senior members of the profession in opposing the

Bath-The objections advanced by Sir Dominic Corrigan-His

opinions valueless-They are based on theory and ignorance of

what the Bath is, and opposed to Physiology and experience-

Eminent authorities who have studied the Bath contradict his

statements-Action of the Bath misrepresented-Desire to sup-

press the truth, and keep the profession and the public in

The fear of catching cold from the Bath illusory-Cold bathing, its

danger as commonly practised-The Bath fortifies the system

against cold-Opinions of medical authorities....

« Forrige Fortsæt »