become teachers, and have full access to laboratories, museums, and libraries. Many young physicians of talents thus rise to high positions, and from this class have risen the greatest men of science. Thus it is, also, that the German Universities secure the best professors who devote their lives to science and instruction, with most admirable results.
Another advantage to medical science in Germany, is the close connexion of the medical departments in the Universities with the other faculties of philosophy, law, and theology. In consequence of this, we find the greatest chemists and natural philosophers to be medical men, and a number of physiologists are great mathematicians.
Dr. Neftel, after completing this course, was connected with medical departments in the Universities of London, Paris, and Germany for four years. After this the adoption of republican opinions prevented his return to Russia, and led him to this country.
It is by frequent intercourse with Dr. Neftel, and by observing his methods of detecting the causes of
disease, that I have been deeply impressed with the imperfect modes pursued by inexperienced practitioners, and even by some who stand high in the profession. For example, I took a friend to him who had been examined by several physicians of high standing. One of them decided that the disease was of the heart, another that it was of the liver, and a third that it was of the kidneys. But by the microscope and by chemical tests, it was proved that neither of these organs were diseased, and that all the symptoms were caused by miasmatic fungi in the blood.
In the case of another lady I witnessed investigations to detect the cause of the frequent re-appearance of carbuncles, which had not been sought for by other medical advisers; they only prescribing modes of hastening and diminishing the crisis. To look at the tongue, feel the pulse, and hear a statement of the symptoms, is the common method, and then prescriptions are given of powerful chemical agents, which, if not suited to the case are injurious.
Thus it comes to pass that the most learned and
careful physicians are demanding an increase of medical educational advantages in our country.
Thus also it has come to pass that health establishments abound, in which the natural agencies of water, light, pure air, exercise, and simple diet are the chief medical agents employed. And in most cases the patients are those who have vainly tried the regular medical treatment.
The great defect in all these institutions, so far as I have observed, is confinement to one special method, and a neglect of enforcing obedience to all the laws of health. For in not even one such institution have I ever known proper arrangements for securing pure air both night and day; while in some the diet is at war with healthful digestion. To these evils add the ignorance of the patients in over-doing, and the want of skill, or care of the physician, and the result has been more mischief than benefit in many cases. For there is as much need of science and care in the physician in the use of these natural agents as in the more common methods.