Tracts on homoeopathy / by William Sharp.

  • William Sharp
Date:
1853-1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Tracts on homoeopathy / by William Sharp. 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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    tells us that in 1642, this assembly declared that the blood did not circulate in the body; in 1672,that is was impossi- ble. In 1774, after having opposed inoculation for fifty years, it admitted its advantages, the moment three Princes of the Royal blood had been inoculated contrary to their permission. In 1609, it expelled one of its members for making use of and curing his patients of ague by quinine. Even among ourselves the great Harvey was persecuted for his discovery (of the circulation of the blood.) The time was when the surgeon who had dared to bring to- gether the edges of the a cut surface to unite by the first intention, (that is to heal immediately,) or who had ventur- ed to dress wounds by water dressings, in lieu of plugging by large pieces of lint and cerate, (by which means the healing of the wounds was protracted for weeks or even months,) met with the universal reprobation of the pro- fession^ and was accused of quackery. Even in later years, with what opprobrious names was the discovery of (vaccina- tion by) the great Jenner assailed! Nay, but very recently, with what violence was the introduction of the stethoscope opposed! and in the present year how have not certain physician-operators been insulted by the ascription of motives, not certainly the most honorable. These paral- lels clearly exhibit the unfair reception which Homoeopathy has hitherto met with from the bulk of the medical pro- fession. I have on]y to thank Dr. Routh for having so well expressed the true state of the case. Thus far for introduction. Dr. Routh next addresses himself to the investigation of Homoeopathy. To this I will apply myself with all seriousness, and in such a manner that I trust neither Dr. Routh nor my readers will have just cause to complain of any impropriety on my part. I agree with Dr. Routh that he only is the true philosopher who can so far separate his mind from the bias of the day as to extricate it from the dazzling perplexities which surround him, and by adopting only those conclusions which logical reasoning deduces, is enabled, out of this labyrinth to bring out truth. Instead of adopting Dr. Routh's division of the subject, I shall prefer the following :— First, the consideration of the principle of Homoeopathy —Similia similibus curantur. Secondly, the question of small doses. Thirdly, the statistics upon which is founded a preference of Homoeopathy, as the most successful method yet known of treating diseases.
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