Organicism is materialism, hopeless and despondent-it is a powerless struggle with death. Nature has everywhere distributed the principle of life; she has given to animals blind instinct,* and to man conscious intelligence. Why should we account ourselves below the brutes? It is true that our excesses are against us, our thirst for enjoyment always being unsatiated; that is the reason why animals living in a savage state have no need of medicine; they live according to the laws of nature. But since civilization is a danger, we should protect ourselves from its evils by our intelligence. Epidemics are due to infinitely small organisms (microorganisms), and must not be considered from the fatalist's point of view. Let us have knowledge to draw from therapeutics every advantage which it permits. We possess in quinine the antimiasmatic agent par excellence; here we are not restricted, but have a potent remedy against all paludal conditions. Let us understand how to use the other alkaloids, in as much as they are vital agents; and the metals and metalloids, in as much as they are physical agents; especially let us comprehend that all is not matter in us. "Being dust, we shall return to dust;" but before that, we have a part to play, a moral duty to perform. Our body is only our material covering our rags, as a great thinker said-but under these beggar's rags, there is the life which animates. It is from this point of view that all men are equal. Rags or laces, what matters it? *The author of the work "Das Unbewusste" thus defines instinct :"In this sense it may be said that every instinct is in the last instance by its origin an acquired habit, and the proverb that 'habit is second nature' thus receives the unexpected supplement that habit is also the beginning and origin of the first nature, i.e., of instinct. For it is always habit, i.e., the frequent repetition of the same function, which so firmly impresses the mode of action, however acquired, upon the central organs of the nervous system, that the predisposition thus originated becomes transmissible."-The great French philosopher and naturalist, Lamarck, defined instinct in a somewhat similar manner.--H.A.A. Medicine is therefore an eminently philosophical science; to be only materialistic would be out of character; it would but be to support Molière's opinion of medicine, who clothed the physicians of his day in the robe of Sganarelle. I have always regretted that that great genius had not a clearer idea of the importance of medicine. He possibly contemplated it from the philosophical point of view of his time, looking with contempt upon those mummeries which so-called physicians had practised from early times, and which no sensible person could encounter without laughing. If we do not desire to pass for the flatterers of death, let us be the ministers of life; and let us understand how to use all the means which nature has so prodigally given us. Let us know how to reason, but let us know, also, how to act. INDEX OF DISEASES. PAGE A. ALBUMINURIA (vide DIATHESES).-Saline regimen, Seidlitz salt, ALKALINURIA (vide DIATHESES).-Seidlitz salt ACIDURIA (vide DIATHESES).-Seidlitz salt 103- 105 105 122 ASTHMA (vide NEUROSES).-Arseniate of strychnine, Arseniate of B. BLENNURIA (vide DIATHESES).-Seidlitz salt, Benzoate of soda C. CHOLERA (ASIATIC).—Ice, Hydroferrocyanate of quinine, Aconitine, CYSTITIS (vide INFLAMMATIONS).-Seidlitz salt, Digitaline, Benzoic 105 37 37 88 CHLORO-ANEMIA (vide DIATHESES).-Arseniate of iron, Phosphoric 93 CHYLURIA (vide DIATHESES).-Seidlitz salt, Quassine CHOLURIA (vide DIATHESES).-Seidlitz salt, Quassine, Strychnine, CADMIC DIATHESIS.-Iodides, Tonics CANCEROUS DIATHESIS.-Arseniate of soda, Iodide of Arsenic, 104 104 115 116 |