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en:hphys:hphys01-book-notices-and-reviews-159-11068 [2013/06/04 17:39]
en:hphys:hphys01-book-notices-and-reviews-159-11068 [2013/06/04 17:39] (current)
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 +====== BOOK NOTICES AND REVIEWS ======
  
 +{{anchor:​s2}}LECTURES,​ CLINICAL AND DIDACTIC, ON THE DISEASES OF WOMEN. {{anchor:​s3}}By //R. Ludlam//, //M. D//., Professor of the Medical and Surgical Diseases of Women, in the Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital, of Chicago, etc., etc. {{anchor:​s4}}Fifth Edition, revised, enlarged and illustrated,​ pp. 1028; price, cloth, $6.00. {{anchor:​s5}}Chicago:​ Duncan Brothers. 1881.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s6}}Gynaecology,​ in the Old School, may be divided into two branches; the surgical and the therapeutic or medical. {{anchor:​s7}}From an allopathic point of view, both of these classes are wrong the one relying too much on surgical measures, the other too entirely on medicinal. {{anchor:​s8}}From a homoeopathic standpoint, it is evident that surgical measures should be entirely subordinated to the therapeutic,​ and should be used only as a last resort. {{anchor:​s9}}Under the lead of Simpson, Wells, and others, in England; of Simon, Esmarch, etc., in Germany; of Atlee, Sims, etc., in America, gynaecology has become a surgical art. {{anchor:​s10}}There is an excessive surgical tendency exhibited by the leading gynaecologists of the Old School. {{anchor:​s11}}As allopathy has no therapeutics,​ and, as Dr. Matthews Duncan says, “tangible remedies are the favorites of the physician and the vulgar,” one is not surprised at their relying so much on surgical measures. {{anchor:​s12}}But,​ among homoeopathists we should expect to see preeminence given to internal medication. {{anchor:​s13}}We are, therefore, pained to observe in this large work of Prof. {{anchor:​s14}}Ludlam,​ how entirely he ignores the internal medication, which has achieved such success in the hands of our leading practitioners,​ for the surgical measures of allopathy. {{anchor:​s15}}Although mention is made of internal medication and remedies given, this part of his treatment is evidently considered as of minor importance. {{anchor:​s16}}As an instance, on page 307, in discussing the subject of “nausea and vomiting of pregnancy,​” we read: “For the vomiting of a viscid mucus, especially on rising, //Nux vomica// and //​Cocculus.//​ {{anchor:​s17}}For constant, or occasional vomiting, without regard to the position of the body, and for vomiting of whatever is swallowed, egesta being mixed with bile or mucus, //​Ipecacuanha.//​ //​{{anchor:​s18}}* *// * For the vomiting of bile with the food, a rancid heart-burn, and ptyalism, especially at night, //​Mercurius.//​{{anchor:​s19}}” After giving a small list of other remedies, “special indications,​ for which you will look to the materia medica,” our author adds: “The number and variety of these remedies implies that the so-called morning sickness of pregnancy is a self-limited disorder, because [l] when a disease inclines to get well of itself, it may easily happen that whatever has been prescribed will sometime or other get the credit of having cured it.{{anchor:​s20}}” This sentence betrays the author’s lack of faith in homeopathy and its medicines, and also his ignorance of homoeopathy. {{anchor:​s21}}He had as well say that //​consumption//​ is a self-limited disease, because many remedies are used in its treatment. {{anchor:​s22}}It betrays ignorance of homoeopathy,​ because the number of remedies, whose symptoms apply to any disease, have nothing whatever to do with its curability or non-curability.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s23}}Dr. Ludlam’s book includes a wide range of subjects: the functional, diseases of menstruation,​ of pregnancy, hysteria, etc., as well as the organic diseases of the ovaries, uterus, etc. {{anchor:​s24}}The work is well and profusely illustrated;​ its descriptions are brief and good, but it displays rather the character of a compilation than the stamp of originality,​ such as observed in the treatises of Thomas, Emmet or Barnes. {{anchor:​s25}}By the way, in several instances, the author’s quotations are taken from older editions of the writers quoted. {{anchor:​s26}}It would have been better to have given their latest and ripest experience. {{anchor:​s27}}In conclusion, we again express our regret that Dr. Ludlam has so entirely ignored homoeopathy and its remedies for the useless expedients of allopathy. {{anchor:​s28}}His work can in no sense be called homoeopathic,​ nor is any such claim made. {{anchor:​s29}}Hahnemann and homoeopathy are conspicuous only by their absence. {{anchor:​s30}}As an allopathic work, it cannot rank with those of Thomas or Emmet; as a homoeopathic work, it is immensely inferior to Jahr or Guernsey.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s31}}A TREATISE ON THE DECLINE OF MANHOOD; ITS CAUSES, AND THE BEST MEANS OF PREVENTING THEIR EFFECTS AND BRINGING ABOUT A RESTORATION TO HEALTH. {{anchor:​s32}}By //A. E. Small//, //A. M//., //M. D.// Chicago: Duncan Brothers. 1881.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s33}}This little book of 102 pages is, according to the preface, “an attempt to supply a want in the literature of homoeopathy.{{anchor:​s34}}” This we are not quite ready to grant that it does. {{anchor:​s35}}The treatment is not sufficiently comprehensive. {{anchor:​s36}}The remedies given are only a few that have been successful in the experience of the author. {{anchor:​s37}}The differential indications are vague and general. {{anchor:​s38}}The treatment is too suggestive of the empiricism of the old school. {{anchor:​s39}}This empiricism has already made considerable inroads into the avowedly homoeopathic literature, and it is not desirable that it should be encouraged. {{anchor:​s40}}Dr. Small should, therefore, give a more extended symptomatology,​ like that in Bell’s book on Diarrhoea; his work would then become a hand-book for daily use. {{anchor:​s41}}On page 42, “//Arum muriaticum//​” should read //Aurum muriaticum.//​ {{anchor:​s42}}Do not the symptoms enumerated at foot of page 57 indicate //​Cantharis//​ rather than //Tartar Em.?//
 +
 +{{anchor:​s43}}W. M. J.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s44}}%%_______________%%
 +
 +{{anchor:​s45}}WANTED,​
 +
 +{{anchor:​s46}}Copies of the January number of this Journal: thirty cents each will be paid for the same. {{anchor:​s47}}Gentlemen wishing to dispose of this number, will please forward to 2109 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. {{anchor:​s48}}Write your name on outside of wrapper.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s49}}%%____________%%
 +
 +{{anchor:​s50}}CHANGE OF HEART.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s51}}We are glad to see that the //American Observer// has experienced a change of heart. {{anchor:​s52}}In its July issue, instead of abusing pure homoeopathy,​ as has been its habit, it reviews the //Revised New Testament.//​ {{anchor:​s53}}Doubtless a //new// book to them!
 +
 +----
 +====== DOCUMENT DESCRIPTOR ======
 +
 +^ Source: | The Homoeopathic Physician Vol. 01 No. 09, 1881, pages 456-458 |
 +^ Description:​ | BOOK NOTICES AND REVIEWS. |
 +^ Author: | HPhys01 |
 +^ Year: | 1881 |
 +^ Editing: | errors only; interlinks; formatting |
 +^ Attribution:​ | Legatum Homeopathicum |
en/hphys/hphys01-book-notices-and-reviews-159-11068.txt · Last modified: 2013/06/04 17:39 (external edit)