Neuropathy, or, The true principles of the art of healing the sick : being an explanation of the action of galvanism, electricity, and magnetism, in the cure of disease : and a comparison between their powers, and those of drugs, or medicines, of all kinds, with a view to determine their relative value and proper uses / by Frederick Hollick.

Frederick Hollick

Date:: 1847

Credit: Neuropathy, or, The true principles of the art of healing the sick : being an explanation of the action of galvanism, electricity, and magnetism, in the cure of disease : and a comparison between their powers, and those of drugs, or medicines, of all kinds, with a view to determine their relative value and proper uses / by Frederick Hollick. 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.)

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$which, under such circumstances, requires a con- stant exercise of hypocrisy and a sacrifice of prin- ciple. But sir, thanks to you, and to men like Combe, Chadwick, Clark, the young generation see the radiancy of a new light, that warms the heart while it illumines the intellect; and though their path stiil continues beset with dangers, they feel a firm footing, and the slough of despond is passed. (Germany,) March 8, 1846. \ '[Translation.'] Being compelled to write in haste, I avail my- self of the German preferably to ray bad English. ... The good fortune I have had, ever since the com- mencement of my medical studies, of residing in large hospitals, necessarily familiarized me early with the natural history of disease, a thing some- what different, it is true, from what we read in many, and not all uncelebrated works. I have ar- rived at the conviction that in inflammation and fever our drugs prove rather mischievous than use- ful ; and that Nature has then to overcome both the disease and the evil effect of the said drugs. I need scarcely tell an experienced physician that, under this term ' drugs,' I do not comprehend simply- mucilaginous, gently-resolvent, mildly-aromatic, or very slightly-astringent decoctions or infusions. My objection is to the frequent employment of emetics, purgatives, drastic resolvents, mercurials; of cuprous, cinchonous, eethereo-resinous preparations. It, has been, is still perhaps, imagined, that with such re- medies, inflammation and fever are to be ' cut short,' 1 advanced to a crisis,' ' to resolution,' &c. Calm observation at the bedside, an unbiassed review of$

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