Homœopathy : explained and illustrated / by T. Battye.

  • Battye, Thomas
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Homœopathy : explained and illustrated / by T. Battye. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    every symptom in aggravation. Again you resort to the lancet; but the relief is as transitory as before. True, you may repeat the operation, and so go on until you bleed him from life. Venesection, then, in the greater number of cases, is a temporary but delusive relief. The general result is, vital depression, ivith diminution of the corporealforced It is a general idea that Homoeopathy is applicable to chronic cases only; and that, in cases of immediate danger, it cannot have a sufficiently speedy effect. Perhaps this idea is corroborated by its first having been applied to chronic eases; but it is quite as applicable in one as in the other; for its effects are so immediate often as to appear almost miraculous. The most sceptical are continually obliged to acknowledge this; but some, beingpre-determined to oppose the science, of course, attribute the effect to faith. Faith is of wonderful power, we know, and has frequently worked most marvellous cures; but, so far from faith being a friend of ours hitherto, it is as great an enemy as we have to contend with. I have hardly ever known the effect of Homoeopathic medicines to be such as were expected by the patient. The general confession is, that they could not think so small a dose could have any effect at all. Indeed, so little does faith favour Homoeopathy (that is, in the present state of the public mind, and when there is but one miserable Professor to uphold it, against a hundred on the watch to publish its disgrace), that we are never applied to but when there is no hope elsewhere. If a patient dies with us, it is published over all the place; and, if we did not hill them^ they would, at least, have been as well without us. A patient that has been dying by inches under the former treatment, is watched and questioned when under ours, as if for fear the benefit should not be w^orth the money; and, if, in the natural fluctuations of disease, the patient be¬ comes worse again, all confidence is lost; and it is better and safer to return to the old plans; when nothing but blame is the portion of the discarded one. Under a skilful Allopathist, the patient may certainly find present relief, as he will know the primary effect of his medicines, and will have no fear of either opiates or stimulants, or bleeding or purging, all which may
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