Let us then come down to a later period, and listen to Dr. Christison, the present eminent Professor of Materia Medica at the University of Edinburgh. He says:
"Of all medical sciences, therapeutics is the most unsatisfactory in its present state, and the least advanced in progress, and surrounded by the most deceitful sources of fallacy."
Sir John Forbes, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians: Physician to the Queen's Household, late editor of the "British and Foreign Medical Review," after a frank admission of the imperfections of Allopathic medicine, says:
"First. That in a large proportion of the cases treated by Allopathic physicians, the disease is cured by Nature and not by them."
"Second. That in a lesser, but still not a small proportion, the disease is cured in spite of them; in other words, their interference opposing instead of assisting the cure."
"Third. That, consequently in a considerable proportion of diseases, it would be as well, or better with patients, in the actual condition of the medical art, as more generally practiced, if all remedies, at least active remedies especially drugs were abandoned." And finally adds, "Things have arrived at such a pitch that they cannot be worse. They must mend or end."
But, I may be asked, what are the views of the Professors and writers in our own country. Have they no more confidence in the healing art than their brethren in the old world? Let us see:
Dr. Rush, one of the lights of the profession in his day, remarks:
"The healing art is an unroofed temple, uncovered at the top and cracked at the foundation."
And again:
"Our want of success results from the following causes: First.—Ignorance of the law governing disease. Second.—Our ignorance of a suitable remedy Third.—Want of efficacy in the remedy; and finally we have assisted in multiplying disease; nay, we have done more: we have increased their mortality."
Professor Chapman, who stood at the head of the profession in Philadelphia, in an address to the medical society, after speaking of the pernicious effects of calomel, adds: