第6章

Thefollowingsentenceappliestothatapriorijudginganduncandidclassofindividualswhobuytheirdinnerswithouttastingallthefoodthereisinthemarket。“Onalldiscoveriestherearepersonswho，withoutdescendingtoanyinquiryintothetruth，pretendtoknow，asitwerebyintuition，thatnewlyassertedfactsarefoundedinthegrossesterrors。ThesewerethosewhoknewthatHarvey’sreportofthecirculationofthebloodwasapreposterousandridiculoussuggestion，andinlatterlaterdaystherewereotherswhoknewthatFranklindeservedreproachfordeclaringthatpointswerepreferabletoballsforprotectingbuildingsfromlightning。“

Again：“Thisunwarrantablemodeofofferingassertionforproof，sounauthorizedandevenunprecedentedexceptinthecondemnationofaGalileo，thepersecutionofaCopernicus，andafewotheractsofinquisitorialauthority，inthetimesofignoranceandsuperstition，affordsbutalamentableinstanceofoneofhisremarks，thatthisisfarfrombeingtheAgeofReason。“

“ThemostvaluablemedicinesintheMateriaMedicaactonprinciplesofwhichwearetotallyignorant。Nonehaveeveryetbeenabletoexplainhowopiumproducessleep，orhowbarkcuresintermittentfevers；andyetfew，itishoped，willbesoabsurdastodesistfromtheuseoftheseimportantarticlesbecausetheyknownothingoftheprincipleoftheiroperations。“Oriftheargumentispreferred，intheeloquentlanguageofthePerkinisticpoet：

“WhatthoughtheCAUSESmaynotbeexplained，SincetheseEFFECTSaredulyascertained，Letnotself-interest，prejudice，orpride，Inducemankindtosetthemeansaside；

Meanswhich，thoughsimple，arebyHeavendesignedtoalleviatethewoesofhumankind。“

Thiscourseofargumentissooftenemployed，thatitdeservestobeexpandedalittle，sothatitslengthandbreadthmaybefairlyseen。

Aseriesofwhatarecalledfactsisbroughtforwardtoprovesomeveryimprobabledoctrine。Itisobjectedbyjudiciouspeople，orsuchashavedevotedthemselvestoanalogoussubjects，thattheseassumedfactsareindirectoppositiontoallthatisknownofthecourseofnature，thattheuniversalexperienceofthepastaffordsapowerfulpresumptionagainsttheirtruth，andthatinproportiontothegravityoftheseobjections，shouldbethenumberandcompetenceofthewitnesses。Theanswerisareadyone。WhatdoweknowofthemysteriesofNature？DoweunderstandtheintricatemachineryoftheUniverse？Whentothisisaddedthenever-failingquotation，“Therearemorethingsinheavenandearth，Horatio，Thanaredreamtofinyourphilosophy，“——

thequestionisthoughttobefinallydisposedof。

Takethecaseofastrologyasanexample。Itisinitselfstrangeandincrediblethattherelationsoftheheavenlybodiestoeachotheratagivenmomentoftime，perhapshalfacenturyago，shouldhaveanythingtodowithmysuccessormisfortuneinanyundertakingofto-day。ButwhatrighthaveItosayitcannotbeso？CanIbindthesweetinfluencesofPleiades，orloosethebandsofOrion？Idonotknowbywhatmightymagictheplanetsrollintheirfluidpaths，confinedtocirclesasunchangingasiftheywereringsofsteel，norwhythegreatwaveofoceanfollowsinasleeplessroundupontheskirtsofmoonlight；norcamIsayfromanycertainknowledgethatthephasesoftheheavenlybodies，oreventhefallingoftheleavesoftheforest，orthemannerinwhichthesandslieuponthesea-

shore，maynotbeknitupbyinvisiblethreadswiththewebofhumandestiny。Thereisaclassofmindsmuchmorereadytobelievethatwhichisatfirstsightincredible，andbecauseitisincredible，thanwhatisgenerallythoughtreasonable。Credoquiaimpossibileest，——“Ibelieve，becauseitisimpossible，“——isanoldparadoxicalexpressionwhichmightbeliterallyappliedtothistribeofpersons。

Andtheyalwayssucceedinfindingsomethingmarvellous，tocallouttheexerciseoftheirrobustfaith。TheoldCabalisticteachersmaintainedthattherewasnotaverse，line，word，orevenletterintheBiblewhichhadnotaspecialefficacyeithertodefendthepersonwhorightlyemployedit，ortoinjurehisenemies；alwaysprovidedtheoriginalHebrewwasmadeuseof。InthehandsofmodernCabalistseverysubstance，nomatterhowinert，acquireswonderfulmedicinalvirtues，provideditbeusedinaproperstateofpurityandsubdivision。

IhavealreadymentionedthemotivesattributedbythePerkiniststotheMedicalProfession，aspreventingitsmembersfromreceivingthenewbutunwelcometruths。Thisaccusationisrepeatedindifferentformsandplaces，as，forinstance，inthefollowingpassage：

“WillthemedicalmanwhohasspentmuchmoneyandlaborinthepursuitofthearcanaofPhysic，andontheexerciseofwhichdependshissupportinlife，proclaimtheinefficacyofhisart，andrecommendaremedytohispatientwhichthemostunletteredinsocietycanemployasadvantageouslyashimself？andaremedy，too，which，unlikethedrops，thepills，thepowders，etc。，oftheMateriaMedica，isinconsumable，andeverinreadinesstobeemployedinsuccessivediseases？“

Asusualwiththesepeople，muchindignationwasexpressedatanyparallelbetweentheirparticulardoctrineandpracticeandthoseoftheirexplodedpredecessors。“Themotives，“saysthedisinterestedMr。Perkins，“whichmusthaveimpelledtothisattemptatclassingtheMETALLICPRACTICEwiththemostpaltryofempyricalprojects，arebuttoothinlyveiledtoescapedetection。“

Toalltheseargumentswasadded，asamatterofcourse，anappealtothefeelingsofthebenevolentinbehalfofsufferinghumanity，intheshapeofanoticethatthepoorwouldbetreatedgratis。Itisprettywellunderstoodthatthisgratuitoustreatmentofthepoordoesnotnecessarilyimplyanexcessofbenevolence，anymorethanthegratuitousdistributionofatrader’sshop-billsisanevidenceofremarkablegenerosity；inshort，thatitisoneofthosethingswhichhonestmenoftendofromthebestmotives，butwhichroguesandimpostorsneverfailtoannounceasoneoftheirspecialrecommendations。ItisastonishingtoseehowthesethingsbrightenupatthetouchofMr。Perkins’spoet：

“Yeworthy，honored，philanthropicfew，Themuseshallweaveherbrightestwreathsforyou，WhoinHumanity’sblandcauseunite，Norheedtheshaftbyinterestaimedorspite；

LikethegreatPatternofBenevolence，Hygeia’sblessingstothepoordispense；

Andthoughopposedbyfolly’sservilebrood，ENJOYTHELUXURYOFDOINGGOOD。“

HavingthussketchedthehistoryofPerkinisminitsdaysofprosperity；havingseenhowitsprungintobeing，andbywhatmeansitmaintaineditsinfluence，itonlyremainstotellthebriefstoryofitsdiscomfitureandfinaldownfall。Thevastmajorityofthesensiblepartofthemedicalprofessionwerecontented，sofaraswecanjudge，toletitdieoutofitself。Itwasinvainthattheadvocatesofthisinvaluablediscoveryexclaimedovertheirperverseandinterestedobstinacy，——invainthattheycalleduptheinjuredghostsofHarvey，Galileo，andCopernicustoshamethatunbelievinggeneration；theBailliesandtheHeberdens，——menwhosenameshavecomedowntousassynonymouswithhonorandwisdom，——boretheirreproachesinmeeksilence，andleftthemunansweredtotheirfate。

Thereweresomeothers，however，who，believingthepublictolaborunderadelusion，thoughtitworthwhiletoseewhetherthecharmwouldbebrokenbyanopentrialofitsvirtue，ascomparedwiththatofsomelesshallowedformula。ItmustberememberedthatapeculiarvaluewasattachedtotheMetallicTractors，asmadeandpatentedbyMr。Perkins。Dr。Haygarth，ofBath，performedvariousexperimentsuponpatientsafflictedwithdifferentcomplaints，——thepatientssupposingthattherealfive-guineaTractorswereemployed。Strangetorelate，heobtainedequallywonderfuleffectswithTractorsofleadandofwood；withnails，piecesofbone，slatepencil，andtobacco-pipe。Dr。AldersonemployedshamTractorsmadeofwood，andproducedsucheffectsuponfivepatientsthattheyreturnedsolemnthanksinchurchfortheircures。Asinglespecimenofthesecasesmaystandforallofthem。AnnHillhadsufferedforsomemonthsfrompainintherightarmandshoulder。TheTractors(woodenones)

wereapplied，andinthespaceoffiveminutessheexpressedherselfrelievedinthefollowingapostrophe：“Blessme！why，whocouldhavethoughtit，thatthemlittlethingscouldpullthepainfromone。

Well，tobesure，thelongeronelives，themoreonesees；ah，dear！“

TheseexperimentsdidnotresultintheimmediateextinctionofPerkinism。Doubtlesstheywereagreatcomforttomanyobstinateunbelievers，andhelpedtosettlesomescepticalminds；butfortherealPerkinisticenthusiasts，itmaybequestionedwhethertheywouldatthattimehavechangedtheiropinionthoughonehadrisenfromthedeadtoassurethemthatitwasanerror。Itperishedwithoutviolence，byaneasyandnaturalprocess。LikethefamoustoyofMongolfier，itrosebymeansofheatedair，——thefeveredbreathofenthusiasticignorance，——andwhenthisgrewcool，asitalwaysdoesinalittlewhile，itcollapsedandfell。

Andnow，onreviewingthewholesubject，howshallweaccountfortheextraordinaryprevalenceofthebeliefinPerkinismamongaportionofwhatissupposedtobethethinkingpartofthecommunity？

Couldthecureshavebeenrealones，producedbytheprincipleofANIMALMAGNETISM？TothisitmaybeansweredthatthePerkinistsridiculedtheideaofapproximatingMesmerandthefounderoftheirowndoctrine，thatnothinglikethesomnambulicconditionseemstohavefollowedtheuseoftheTractors，andthatneithertheexertionofthewillnorthepowersoftheindividualwhooperatedseemtohavebeenconsideredofanyconsequence。Besides，theabsoluteneglectintowhichtheTractorssoondeclinedisgoodevidencethattheywereincapableofaffordinganyconsiderableandpermanentreliefinthecomplaintsforthecureofwhichtheywereapplied。

Ofcoursealargenumberofapparentcureswereduesolelytonature；

whichistrueundereveryformoftreatment，orthodoxorempirical。

Ofcoursemanypersonsexperiencedatleasttemporaryrelieffromthestrongimpressionmadeupontheirmindsbythisnovelandmarvellousmethodoftreatment。

Many，again，influencedbythesanguinehopesofthoseaboutthem，likedyingpeople，whooftensaysincerely，fromdaytoday，thattheyaregettingbetter，cheatedthemselvesintoafalseandshort-

livedbeliefthattheywerecured；andashappensinsuchcases，thepublicneverknewmorethanthefirsthalfofthestory。

WhenitwassaidtothePerkinists，thatwhatevereffectstheyproducedweremerelythroughtheimagination，theydeclared(liketheadvocatesoftheROYALTOUCHandtheUNGUENTUMARMARIUMthatthisexplanationwassufficientlydisprovedbythefactofnumerousandsuccessfulcureswhichhadbeenwitnessedininfantsandbruteanimals。Dr。Haygarthrepliedtothis，that“inthesecasesitisnotthePatient，buttheObserver，whoisdeceivedbyhisownimagination，“andthatsuchmaybethefact，wehaveseeninthecaseofthegoodladywhothoughtshehadconjuredawaythespotfromherfriend’scountenance，whenitremainedjustasbefore。

AstothemotivesoftheinventorandvenderoftheTractors，thefactsmustbeallowedtospeakforthemselves。Butwhentwolittlebitsofbrassandironarepatented，asaninvention，astheresultofnumerousexperiments，whenpeopleareled，orevenallowed，toinferthattheyareapeculiarcompound，whentheyareartfullyassociatedwithanewandbrilliantdiscovery(whichthenhappenedtobeGalvanism)，whentheyaresoldatmanyhundredtimestheirvalue，andthesellerprintshisopinionthataHospitalwillsufferinconvenience，“unlessitpossessesmanysetsoftheTractors，andtheseplacedinthehandsofthepatientstopractiseoneachother，“

onecannotbutsuspectthattheywerecontrivedintheneighborhoodofawoodennutmegfactory；thatlegsofhaminthatregionarenotmadeofthebestmahogany；andthatsuchasbuytheircucumberseedinthatvicinityhavetowaitforthefruitaslongastheIndiansfortheircropofgunpowder。

ThesucceedinglecturewillbedevotedtoanexaminationofthedoctrinesofSamuelHahnemannandhisdisciples；doctrineswhichsomeconsidernewandothersold；thecommontitleofwhichisvariouslyknownasHo-moeopathy，Homoe-op-athy，Homoeo-paith-y，orHom’pathy，andtheclaimsofwhichareconsideredbysomeasinfinitelyimportant，andbymanyasimmeasurablyridiculous。

Iwishtostate，forthesakeofanywhomaybeinterestedinthesubject，thatIshalltreatit，notbyridicule，butbyargument；

perhapswithgreatfreedom，butwithgoodtemperandinpeaceablelanguage；withverylittlehopeofreclaimingconverts，withnodesireofmakingenemies，butwithafirmbeliefthatitspretensionsandassertionscannotstandbeforeasinglehourofcalminvestigation。

II。

ItmaybethoughtthatadirectattackuponthepretensionsofHOMOEOPATHYisanuncalled-foraggressionuponanunoffendingdoctrineanditspeacefuladvocates。

ButalittleinquirywillshowthatithaslongassumedsohostileapositionwithrespecttotheMedicalProfession，thatanytroubleI，oranyothermemberofthatprofession，maychoosetobestowuponitmaybeconsideredmerelyasamatterofself-defence。Itbeganwithanattempttoshowtheinsignificanceofallexistingmedicalknowledge。Itnotonlylaidclaimtowonderfulpowersofitsown，butitdeclaredthecommonpracticetobeattendedwiththemostpositivelyinjuriouseffects，thatbyitacutediseasesareaggravated，andchronicdiseasesrenderedincurable。Ithasatvarioustimesbroughtforwardcollectionsoffigureshavingtheairofstatisticaldocuments，pretendingtoshowagreatproportionalmortalityamongthepatientsoftheMedicalProfession，ascomparedwiththosetreatedaccordingtoitsownrules。Notcontentedwithchoosinganameofclassicaloriginforitself，itinventedoneforthewholecommunityofinnocentphysicians，assuringthem，totheirgreatsurprise，thattheywereallALLOPATHISTS，whethertheyknewitornot，andincludingalltheillustriousmastersofthepast，fromHippocratesdowntoHunter，underthesamegratuitoustitle。Theline，then，hasbeendrawnbythechampionsofthenewdoctrine；theyhaveliftedthelance，theyhavesoundedthecharge，andareresponsibleforanylittleskirmishingwhichmayhappen。