medical essays-第10章
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ause they know nothing of the principle of their operations。〃 Or if the argument is preferred； in the eloquent language of the Perkinistic poet：
〃What though the CAUSES may not be explained； Since these EFFECTS are duly ascertained； Let not self…interest； prejudice； or pride； Induce mankind to set the means aside； Means which； though simple； are by Heaven designed to alleviate the woes of human kind。〃
This course of argument is so often employed； that it deserves to be expanded a little； so that its length and breadth may be fairly seen。 A series of what are called facts is brought forward to prove some very improbable doctrine。 It is objected by judicious people； or such as have devoted themselves to analogous subjects； that these assumed facts are in direct opposition to all that is known of the course of nature； that the universal experience of the past affords a powerful presumption against their truth； and that in proportion to the gravity of these objections； should be the number and competence of the witnesses。 The answer is a ready one。 What do we know of the mysteries of Nature？ Do we understand the intricate machinery of the Universe？ When to this is added the never…failing quotation；
〃There are more things in heaven and earth； Horatio； Than are dreamt of in your philosophy；〃
the question is thought to be finally disposed of。
Take the case of astrology as an example。 It is in itself strange and incredible that the relations of the heavenly bodies to each other at a given moment of time； perhaps half a century ago； should have anything to do with my success or misfortune in any undertaking of to…day。 But what right have I to say it cannot be so？ Can I bind the sweet influences of Pleiades； or loose the bands of Orion？ I do not know by what mighty magic the planets roll in their fluid paths； confined to circles as unchanging as if they were rings of steel； nor why the great wave of ocean follows in a sleepless round upon the skirts of moonlight； nor cam I say from any certain knowledge that the phases of the heavenly bodies； or even the falling of the leaves of the forest； or the manner in which the sands lie upon the sea… shore； may not be knit up by invisible threads with the web of human destiny。 There is a class of minds much more ready to believe that which is at first sight incredible； and because it is incredible； than what is generally thought reasonable。 Credo quia impossibile est；〃I believe； because it is impossible；〃is an old paradoxical expression which might be literally applied to this tribe of persons。 And they always succeed in finding something marvellous； to call out the exercise of their robust faith。 The old Cabalistic teachers maintained that there was not a verse； line； word； or even letter in the Bible which had not a special efficacy either to defend the person who rightly employed it； or to injure his enemies； always provided the original Hebrew was made use of。 In the hands of modern Cabalists every substance； no matter how inert； acquires wonderful medicinal virtues； provided it be used in a proper state of purity and subdivision。
I have already mentioned the motives attributed by the Perkinists to the Medical Profession； as preventing its members from receiving the new but unwelcome truths。 This accusation is repeated in different forms and places； as； for instance； in the following passage： 〃Will the medical man who has spent much money and labor in the pursuit of the arcana of Physic； and on the exercise of which depends his support in life； proclaim the inefficacy of his art； and recommend a remedy to his patient which the most unlettered in society can employ as advantageously as himself？ and a remedy； too； which； unlike the drops； the pills； the powders； etc。； of the Materia Medica； is inconsumable； and ever in readiness to be employed in successive diseases？〃
As usual with these people； much indignation was expressed at any parallel between their particular doctrine and practice and those of their exploded predecessors。 〃The motives；〃 says the disinterested Mr。 Perkins； 〃which must have impelled to this attempt at classing the METALLIC PRACTICE with the most paltry of empyrical projects； are but too thinly veiled to escape detection。〃
To all these arguments was added； as a matter of course； an appeal to the feelings of the benevolent in behalf of suffering humanity； in the shape of a notice that the poor would be treated gratis。 It is pretty well understood that this gratuitous treatment of the poor does not necessarily imply an excess of benevolence； any more than the gratuitous distribution of a trader's shop…bills is an evidence of remarkable generosity； in short； that it is one of those things which honest men often do from the best motives； but which rogues and impostors never fail to announce as one of their special recommendations。 It is astonishing to see how these things brighten up at the touch of Mr。 Perkins's poet：
〃Ye worthy； honored； philanthropic few； The muse shall weave her brightest wreaths for you； Who in Humanity's bland cause unite； Nor heed the shaft by interest aimed or spite； Like the great Pattern of Benevolence； Hygeia's blessings to the poor dispense； And though opposed by folly's servile brood； ENJOY THE LUXURY OF DOING GOOD。〃
Having thus sketched the history of Perkinism in its days of prosperity； having seen how it sprung into being； and by what means it maintained its influence； it only remains to tell the brief story of its discomfiture and final downfall。 The vast majority of the sensible part of the medical profession were contented； so far as we can judge； to let it die out of itself。 It was in vain that the advocates of this invaluable discovery exclaimed over their perverse and interested obstinacy；in vain that they called up the injured ghosts of Harvey； Galileo； and Copernicus to shame that unbelieving generation； the Baillies and the Heberdens；men whose names have come down to us as synonymous with honor and wisdom；bore their reproaches in meek silence； and left them unanswered to their fate。 There were some others； however； who； believing the public to labor under a delusion； thought it worth while to see whether the charm would be broken by an open trial of its virtue； as compared with that of some less hallowed formula。 It must be remembered that a peculiar value was attached to the Metallic Tractors； as made and patented by Mr。 Perkins。 Dr。 Haygarth； of Bath； performed various experiments upon patients afflicted with different complaints；the patients supposing that the real five…guinea Tractors were employed。 Strange to relate； he obtained equally wonderful effects with Tractors of lead and of wood； with nails； pieces of bone； slate pencil； and tobacco…pipe。 Dr。 Alderson employed sham Tractors made of wood； and produced such effects upon five patients that they returned solemn thanks in church for their cures。 A single specimen of these cases may stand for all of them。 Ann Hill had suffered for some months from pain in the right arm and shoulder。 The Tractors （wooden ones） were applied； and in the space of five minutes she expressed herself relieved in the following apostrophe： 〃Bless me！ why； who could have thought it； that them little things could pull the pain from one。 Well； to be sure； the longer one lives； the more one sees； ah； dear！〃
These experiments did not result in the immediate extinction of Perkinism。 Doubtless they were a great comfort to many obstinate unbelievers； and helped to settle some sceptical minds； but for the real Perkinistic enthusiasts； it may be questioned whether they would at that time have changed their opinion though one had risen from the dead to assure them that it was an error。 It perished without violence； by an easy and natural process。 Like the famous toy of Mongolfier； it rose by means of heated air；the fevered breath of enthusiastic ignorance；and when this grew cool； as it always does in a little while； it collapsed and fell。
And now； on reviewing the whole subject； how shall we account for the extraordinary prevalence of the belief in Perkinism among a portion of what
