each leaf. The next, however, insisted that the best way was to
bind up the part in molasses. The third said the best way was to take
just three stitches to the wound, and bind it up in the blood. The
fourth said the most sovereign thing in the world, for a fresh cut, was
tobacco juice!

Now I could have told these various representatives of as many various
public opinions, that all these things and many more which might have
been named, are, in a certain sense, good, since any mere flesh wound,
in the ordinary circumstances of ordinary life, will heal in a
reasonable time, in spite of them. I could have told them, still
further, that the Balsam of Life was probably little, if any, better
than the other things proposed, any farther than as it secured more
faith and confidence, and prevented the application of something which
was worse. I could have assured them that all the external applications
in the world are of no possible service, except to defend from cold air,
and prevent external injuries, or reduce inflammation; and that the
last-mentioned symptom, should it occur, would be best relieved by cold
water. But what good would it have done? Just none at all, according to
my own experience. Positive assurance--mere dogmatism--was much better.

The wound did well as it was, though it might have done much better,
could the patient's faith have been just as firmly fixed on nothing at
all but Nature, as it was on _medicaments_. However, the tincture I
proposed, which somebody had dignified with the name of Balsam of life,
had done very little harm, if any, to the parts to which it had been
applied, while it had done a great deal of good to the patient's mind,
and the minds of his friends. It was nothing, I believe, but a compound
tincture of benzoin. I have used it a great number of times, and with
the same wonderful results. The patient always gets well, either on
account of it, or in spite of it! Does it make much practical difference
which?

FOOTNOTES:

[D] See Chap. VIII.

[E] Even such inquiries as these are usually of doubtful tendency. They
weaken public confidence. There must be but one opinion of any value to
the physician or his patients, and that must be _his own_!

CHAPTER XXXVI.

EMILIA AND THE LOVE CURE.

One young family on whom I was accustomed to call from time to time, was
not only accustomed to send for me in the night, as did many others,
but, what made it much worse for me, they res