HOMOEOPATHY

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2797, 13 July 1866, Page 5

HOMOEOPATHY

To the Editor of the Daily Southmn Cjross. . Sir,— ln reply to Mr. Wood's letter of. yesterday, the deceitful statistics referred to by Dr£ Maclean were those of Fleischmann, of Vienna, 1852,— the ablest advocate of the system Germany has produced; ' and of the homwopathic practitioner of Great Britain in regard to their treatment of cholera in 1854 On reflection your correspondent must see that it is well nigh impossible for *ny one man to investigate the statements of " all the compiler! and publisher* of homoeopathic statistics.". As to the part that nature takes in the cure of disease— in persons of good constitution the tendency of most disease's is for them to get well of their own accord ; and the advantage of having in attendance a man educated to a knowledge of the workings of the various functions of the body -in other words, a doctor— is, to watch the progress of the case, and to assist one function and control another should occasion require. Thus Dr. Hughes Bennett, of Edinburgh, publishes 102 cases of inflammation of the lungs treated under his caie in the infirmary from 1848 to 1862 ; they all recovered, notwithstanding that, in nineteeu of these cases, both lungs were affected, and, in seventeen, other diseases were also present. In addition to these were three fatal cases severely complicated with other diseases. As an example of what nature will do, I myself know of a case treated in one of our London hospitals—a middle-aged woman, in whom both lungs were severely iniamed, and whose only treatment was small doses of syrup of red poppies, a medicine used chiefly as a colouring agent, on account of the mildness of its active properties : thanks to nature and proper nursing she made a good recovery. Typhoid and typhus fever, again, are diseases in ■which very often no medicinal treatment is required, careful watching and the observance of ordinary hygienic rules being sufficient for their well-doing. By experience we know that we cannot shorten their duration, and therefore Jtir endeavour is to tide these patients through. It is in complicated disorders, and in disease* occurring in bad constitution«,.that the ability of the physician is specially needed. I must protest against being put down as "the representative of the enemie* of homoeopathy generally." I bear no ill will to the system, but I I do to its being represented by ill-educated men, who run the risk of want of knowing when to act for their patient's welfare. - ... Allopathy I practise, because I am convinced it is far better. I certainly do think it a pity that a man, with the experience that Mr. Wood must; possess, ■hould think of entering upon a system in which amateurs are so successful. — I have, &c, W. "Y. Jakins. July 7, 1866.