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CURATIVE AGENCIES. 295
result. I have seen hundreds of medical students ; I
have attended the lectures of two medical colleges of
the first class in this country ; " I speak what I know,
and testify what I have seen." What Napoleon says
is true of the highest and most enlightened. What,
then, must be the truth respecting the mass great of
medical practitioners ? Of some of their practices I
shall have occasion to speak more particularly, when
upon Diseases and Treatment.
But there are things that we may do, wisely, safely,
and with good results. To know these, is the true
science of medicine. To do nothing, is better than to
do mischief; but it is not so well as to do something
that should be done. When a man has fallen into a
ditch, we had better do nothing than to jump upon him,
and bury him deeper; but it is much better to carefully
pull him out, cleanse him of the mud, put him in the
right path, and send him on his way rejoicing. Some
of our means of cure seem
may unnatural ; but they
are only so as they are adapted to an unnatural condi
tion, like the process of pulling the man out of the
ditch, and cleansing his garments.
We can do all that is practicable to remove the causes
of disease, which must be ascertained by a thorough
and searching examination. Patients cheat physicians
and even themselves, as to the causes of disease. How
seldom will a woman confess to or a man tight lacing, to
gluttony. We must not expect confessions of secret
licentiousness. But we must do all in our power, and
admonish the patient
causes of evil.
as to the existence of hidden
There are potent causes of disease that are not easy