The American physician : being a new system of practice, founded on botany ; for the use of families and practitioners.

  • Rogers, David
Date:
1824
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The American physician : being a new system of practice, founded on botany ; for the use of families and practitioners. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

    10/158
    *V PREFA such facts, did I conceive no desire to produce a reform, I should be unworthy the name of a man. On the other hand, when 1 observe the means oi health scattered so profusely around us in almost every field and forest—placed as it were, within the reach of every hand that will deign to accept, it is natural to wish that the kind efforts of nature be seconded—that her gifts be received and applied to useful purposes. I believe the publick welfare requires a better system of medicine than has heretofore appeared; a system more simple in its principles and details; more agreeable to common sense; better adapted to popular apprehensions and wants, in order that such as need most the kind re- lief of charity, may not suffer most from authorized op- pression. Were people generally aware of the enor- mous disproportion between the expenses of medicines and medical services, and the price of other articlesj were they apprized of the adulterations and other im- positions practised in the importation of foreign drugs; there would be one united voice against the use of such drugs, against encouraging such services. Does it re- flect honour on that kind Providence who supplies the wants of all creatures, to suppose that the science of health in which every child of Adam is so deeply con- cerned, must necessarily be the exclusive privilege of a few? that it should be locked up in an unknown lan- guage, or merged in a mass of learned lumber—re- quiring an age of study to explore and apply its prin- ciples to useful purposes ? A reference to the Aborigines of our country is sufficient to refute such doctrine. Is it credible that diseases peculiar to our climate and our country, can find no remedy nearer than Peru or Ice- land, Cochin China or Japan ? Is it credible that the thousands of vegetables that beautify and perfume our fields and groves have no valuable use in relation to the health and comfort of man ? A belief in the wisdom of the Creator, who does nothing in vain, must lead us to a different conclusion. In fact the more the medics,!
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3