The Midwest pioneer, his ills, cures, & doctors - University Library ...

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to found a "National Thomsonian Infirmary" at Baltimore,
but this project failed to secure legislative sanction.
Nevertheless various infirmaries were established in the
eastern states, as well as one at Columbus, headed by Dr.
Alvah Curtis; shortly the Recorder was reporting impressive
statistics of cures in these institutions. There was Peter
R. Jones, who had been "bound hand and foot nine days
literally dissected by the British surgeons," then transferred
to the Massachusetts General Hospital, where another dissection
was recommended. To this he "preferred the loss
of life." He was cured at a Botanic infirmary by four
courses of medicine. There was also the case of "A Lady
— deplorable state of mental derangement — attended by
the celebrated Dr. Shattuck, and by him pronounced beyond
the reach of medical aid, and advised that she be immediately
removed to the Insane Hospital or Mad Hotise,
who would prove the contrary. — But back to
Pepperell, Mass. — cured in one week, and married in three
months." Thousand-dollar rewards were posted for anyone
the convention.
A "Test Resolution" was adopted which prescribed the
line for true Botanies: no practitioner was to use as medicine
any animal, mineral, or vegetable poisons; bleed or
blister; or use or sell any compounds the component parts
of which were kept a secret, or any other article contrary
to the principles laid down by the founder of the system.
All this in vain. As the year 1837 approached, and with
it the expiration of Thomson's patent, the controversies
between the factions began to multiply. Already schools
for training in Botanic medicine had been opened in Georgia,
Virginia, Tennessee, and Massachusetts. These naturally
favored the new, or "Reformed," Botanic system in
opposition to the original Thomsonian brand. Likewise
the dissensions of Drs. Curtis, Howard, and Beach, were
becoming more open and aggressive. The formal parting
of the ways did not occur, however, until the Philadelphia
convention of 1838. Thomson was apparently aware of the
fact that matters were getting out of hand. In his annual