The improved American family physician, or, Sick man's guide to health : containing a complete theory of the botanic practice of medicine, on the Thomsonian and hygeian system, with alterations and improvements : to which is appended a concise formula for compounding medicines for the cure of every complaint incident to human nature : also, a complete digest of midwifery, so that the old proverb may be verified, that every man may be his own physician.

  • Day, L. Meeker.
Date:
1833
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The improved American family physician, or, Sick man's guide to health : containing a complete theory of the botanic practice of medicine, on the Thomsonian and hygeian system, with alterations and improvements : to which is appended a concise formula for compounding medicines for the cure of every complaint incident to human nature : also, a complete digest of midwifery, so that the old proverb may be verified, that every man may be his own physician. 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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    order to drive off the cold, and life will bear the rule; but, on the contrary, should cold be considered a friend, when the cold fit is on, by increasing its power, you drive oft'the heat, and death must ensue. Thus you may pro- mote life or death, by tempering cold and heat. Much has been said by the doctors concerning the turn of a fever, and how long a time it will run. When it is said that a fever will turn at such a time, I presume it must mean that it has been gone; this is true, for it is then gone on the outside, and is trying to turn again and o-o inside, where it belongs. Instead of following the dictates of nature, and aiding it to subdue the cold, the doctor uses all his skill to kill the fever. How, would I ask in the name of common sense, can any thing turn when killed? Support the fever, and it will return in- side; the cold, which is the cause of disease, will be driven out, and health will be restored. In all cases- called kver, the cause is the same in a greater or less degree, and may be relieved by one general remedy. The cold causes canker, and before the canker is seated, the strife will take place between cold and heat; and while the hot fashes and cold chills remain, it is evi- dence that the canker 'u not settled, and the hot medi- cine alone, occasionally assisted by steam, will'throw it off; but as the contest ceases, the heat is steady on the outside ; then canker assumes the power inside ; this is called a settled fever. The truth is, the canker is fixed cm the inside and will ripen and come off in a short time, if the fever is kept up so as to overpower the cold. This- idea is new and never was known till my discovery. By raising the fever with Nos. I and 2, and taking off the canker with No. 3, and the same given by injections, we may turn a fever when we please; but if this is not un- derstood, the canker will ripen and come off itself, when the fever wi'l turn and go inside and the cold will be driven out; therefore they will do much better without a doctor than with. The higher a fever runs, the sooner the cold will be subdued; and if you contend against the heat, the longer will be the run of the fever, and when killed, death follows. u When a patient is bled, it lessens the heat and gives-