as a specific and prophylactic by Hahnemann, and
soon recommended not only by his own disciples, but by some of the best
names of the "regular" school.[23] But soon after, as many physicians of
standing declared themselves adversaries to Hahnemann's discovery,[24]
and whatever may be the merits of belladonna as a specific and
prophylactic in some quarters, it is certain that it never answered the
expectation raised by its promulgators in others. As far as my own
experience extends, I have seen very little or no effect from it. I have
restricted myself, it is true, to homoeopathic doses, being afraid of
the bad consequences of larger quantities in children; but from what I
have seen in my own practice and that of some other physicians with whom
I was familiar, I cannot but advise my readers not _to rely_ either on
the prophylactic or the curative power of belladonna, when a safer and
more reliable remedy is offered to them. A remedy may be excellent in
certain cases and certain epidemics, and many an honest and well-meaning
physician may be deceived into the belief that he has a general remedy
in hand, whilst others, or himself, on future occasions discover that he
has allowed himself to be taken in. Had not belladonna and aconite
proved beneficial in many cases, they would scarcely have acquired their
reputation, but with all due respect for Father Hahnemann and his
system, I must deny belladonna to be a general, safe and reliable remedy
in the prevention and cure of scarlet-fever.

42. THERE IS NEITHER A SPECIFIC NOR A PROPHYLACTIC TO BE RELIED ON.

All these different methods and remedies, and many others, have been and
are still used with more or less effect. But where there are three
physicians to recommend one of them, there will always be four to
contradict them. They may all do some good in certain epidemics or
individual cases; they may relieve symptoms; they may save the life of
many a patient who would have died without them (although many a patient
who died, might have lived also, had he been under a more judicious
treatment, or--under no treatment at all.) But none is reliable in
general; none contains a specific to neutralize the morbid poison; none
is a reliable prophylactic, such as vaccina for small-pox; and if single
physicians, or whole classes of physicians, assert to the contrary, the
fault must lie somewhere, either in their excess of faith in certain
authorities, which induces them to throw thei