philosophy but upon the solid basis of
cold-blooded fact.
Why then, the reader will inquire, should so wonderful and at the same
time _simple, inexpensive and easily applied remedy_ be treated by "the
faculty" with an affectation of indulgent toleration, ridicule or
"damning with faint praise."
To this riddle there are two solutions--neither of them very creditable
to those concerned.
On the one hand, only crass ignorance of some of the most important
facts of physiology and physiological chemistry could account for it.
And, it must be borne in mind that in the course of the prolific
verbosity of pontificated dogma which has graced the scroll of medical
science, whole libraries have been written--and ably written, too--by
skillful pens for the sole purpose of covering the simple nudity of the
agnostic position of science--the dreaded, confidence-shattering
admission: "I don't know."
Failing this solution there is, unfortunately, but one alternative and
that a singularly distasteful one to entertain; namely, to attribute the
unpopularity of this splendid gift of Nature to unprofessional
considerations on the part of an apothecary-loving profession.
The employment of vinegar is, as I have said, a royal remedy, ready to
the hand of any man and at little or no expense, and it needs no
"learned" interpretation.
It is consequently beyond the omnivorous talons of "the trade."
Would it be unkind to say: "Hinc illae lachrymae"?
THE PACKS.
The packs mentioned as physical treatment, under Nos. 24, 25, 26 and 27,
are of the greatest importance, and in fact I never undertake the
treatment of any disease whatsoever without applying them as the most
effective means of restoring proper circulation of the blood and
removing diseased matter from the body, which is the only way to bring
about a real and definite cure.
The effect of the pack is the cooling of the blood.
The temperature of the pack is 50 degrees and more below the temperature
of the blood.
In the first place this brings about quiet after unrest.
Through the action of the body, which sends a large quantity of blood to
the places which are touched by the cool compresses, a certain surplus
of heat is created which is transferred to the compresses and retained
by them as moist warmth.
Under this influence the blood-vessels of the skin extend and absorb
blood more freely, which is thus diverted from the important internal
organs to the skin. I
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