Page:Who are the quacks?.djvu/12

 can suggest the proper and scientific principles upon which a restoration must depend. It is simply to wash away extraneous materials from the vital channels, regulate temperature of the bodily organs, supply hygienic influences which consist in congenial agencies, viz: pure air, food, drink, light, water, electricity, &c. Anything which sustains normal action must be of equal importance to restore abnormal conditions.

The great unsolved problem in the minds of medical men is, to know what agencies will fulfil the indispensable indications requisite to restore disease, also what will really sustain normal health. No one of common sense, can believe that drugs or medicines will either sustain or restore vital action. Nay, medicines, including all uncongenial or incompatible substances, or elements, are poisonous when brought in contact with the living tissues; because they are not capable of nutrition and assimilation. Because they must pass through the organic domain without imparting renewed vital structures. Because, they are net food, but intruders, meddlers, stimulants, and therefore only excite abnormal action without adding to the living creature physiological stamina.

All these uncongenial agencies or improper proportioned elements belong to one category, whether they consist in improper food and drink, medicine, tobacco, vitiated air, or anything else. They are all poisons, that is, in proportion to the dose and their corrosive properties. And all physiologically proportioned elements of human life, belong to another category of agencies, these are useful to, and usable by the organism as real food, water, air, &c. They are the concomitants of life, by which perfect or physiological health can be sustained, and restored when lost.

There never exist more than two normal sides, to any scientific subject. One is compatible, the other incompatible. "No one can serve God and Mammon at the same time." No person can be perfectly healthful, and also partially, or wholly sick. A man can only swallow poisonous agencies, or food and drink. The one is usable, the other non-usable.

A man must either be in the right or in the wrong. He must be a sinner or a Saint, He must speak the truth or falsehood. He must be in darkness or light. He must see or be blind. He must hear or be deaf. He must be strictly scientific or be a "quack." He must understand his subject or be a ninny. He must be wise or be a stupid booby, But, how? says our refined, half or partially scientific philosopher, shall I come to such a conclusion? I am very certain, that I am more enlightened, and nearer correct, than many other persons; yet, I am not thoroughly and legitimately scientific.

We answer, Science knows no "half-way;" you must evidently be a "quack," or a "half-cut." And we do most emphatically protest against any "quack" or "half-cut" to tamper with our lives! Nay, the merchant or financier would not trust his monetary matters in your hands, hence, how could you ask us to trifle with our most precious boon, sweet and glorious life!

Friends, since medical authorities acknowledge, that medicine has not been, and cannot be reduced to Science, we deem it a privilege to give our reasons why it is not, and cannot become a Science. Medicine in itself, however, is a Science, but when applied to Vital Organs, as curative or restorative adjuncts, it looses all its scientific