more common acute diseases may and can, during a certain period of time at least, run their course favorably enough under its administration. The general results of the treatment during the three months reported of, were, we think, such as would have satisfied many practitioners of our ordinary medicine. 6. Neither will it any longer be denied that PNEUMONIA, even in a severe form, may, under homoeopathic treatment, pass through all its stages to perfect recovery. 7. The great and important practical question is-Whether or not the homœopathic remedies administered in these cases contributed in any degree --or if in some degree, in what degree-towards the cure of the diseases, particularly the cases of pneumonia? This is a question which will be answered differently by different persons. No doubt, Dr. Fleischmann and homeopathists generally will regard these cases not only as highly favorable to the claims of homoeopathy, but as unquestionable proofs of its great remedial powers. We, on the contrary, in common with our reporter, see no other powers operating in these cases but the natural powers of the living system, called into action under very favorable circumstances. The general aspect of the whole cases, favorable and unfavorable alike, and the minute details of each case, convey to our mind the most perfect conviction that, throughout, Nature, not art, was the worker; and it would seem easy to convey to others the grounds of this conviction, by a minute analysis of the individual cases through their whole progress, whether the patients were getting better or getting worse, whether taking or omitting the homoeopathic medicaments. 8. The same doubts as to the efficacy of the medicines employed may exist in regard to the cases of Professor Skoda. But if the advocates of homoeopathy insist on the value of the evidence in favour of the decillionths of phosphorus, aconite, or bryonia, they surely have no right to reject the evidence of a precisely similar kind, in favour of Dr. Skoda's grain doses of the extractum graminis or nitre. We may perhaps be forgiven even by the most zealous partisans of ordinary medicine, particularly the abettors of the heroic system, for setting down both systems as equally effective in the case in question, that is, as having no effect at all. 9. The results of the treatment of the cases of pneumonia, both by Fleischmann and Skoda, seem to prove that bloodletting is not so essential and indispensable a remedy, even in severe cases of pneumonia, as has usually been supposed; and that its omission, in a certain proportion of cases at least, does not even retard the period of convalescence or the completion of the cure. 10. The materials supplied in Dr. Balfour's Report, like those formerly supplied in Dr. Fleischmann's, do not in any degree authorize the general conclusion that homeopathic treatment is as good as that of ordinary medicine, much less that the latter like the former is valueless, Nature being all-sufficient in the cure of diseases; but both go powerfully to corroborate the following, among other important inferences formerly deduced by us from a review of the whole question, viz.-1. That Nature is more powerful in curing diseases, and has practically a much greater share in the ordinary cure of diseases, than is commonly believed. 2. That the prevailing doctrines respecting the actions and powers of many particular medicaments and other so-called remedial agents, require reinvestigation, with a view to ascertain the truth. 3. That while this investigation is in progress, we should be cautious, even timid, in the use of medicaments and other medical means capable of exerting a powerful influence on the animal system, and therefore capable (possibly) of doing evil as well as good. 4. That in the present state of our knowledge, the Hygienic - Eclectic -Hippocratic-Natural system of treating diseases, is the only one that can be justified or safely followed. 594 BOOKS RECEIVED FOR REVIEW. 1. The Sanative Influence of Climate. By Sir James Clark, Bart. Fourth edition. London, 1846. 8vo, pp. 412. 10s. 6d. 2. Practical Surgery. By Robert Liston. Fourth edition, London, 1846. 8vo, pp. 582. 22s. 3. Observations on the Principle of Vital Affinity, as illustrated by Recent Discoveries in Chemistry. By W. P. Alison, M.D., F.R.S.E. (From the Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.) Edinburgh, 1846. 8vo, pp. 23. 4. The Open Surgery Question considered. By W. J. Preston. London, 1846. 8vo, pp. 25. 5. Meade's Manual for Students preparing for Examination at Apothecaries' Hall. Second edition. London, 1846. 8vo, pp. 586. 10s. 6d. 6. The Economy of the Animal Kingdom, considered Anatomically, Physically, and Physiologically. By Emanuel Swedenborg. Translated from the Latin by the Rev. A. Clesseld, M.D. Two vols. 8vo, pp. 574-426. 7. Verbrennung und Athmen, chemische Thatigkeit und organisches Leben. Von Fr. Nasse. Bonn, 1846. 8vo, pp. 154. 8. Introductory Lecture to a Course of Military Surgery. By Sir George Ballingall, M.D. Edinburgh, 1846. 8vo, pp. 23. 9. Fragments of Medical Science and Art. An Address. By H. J. Bigelow, M.D. Boston, 1846. Bvo, pp. 54. 10. A Series of Essays on Inflammation and its Varieties. Essay I. The Natural History of the Disease. By Henry Clutterbuck, M. D. London, 1846. 8vo, pp. 67. 11. Three Reports of the Joint Deputation of the Society of Apothecaries and the National Association. London, 1846. 8vo, pp. 46. Is. 12. Analysis of the Evidence in Favour of the Constant Supply System. By J. Wicksteed, Esq. London, 1846. 8vo, pp. 46. 13. Inaugural Dissertation on Yellow Fever. By Hugh Bone, м.D. Edin. 1846. 8vo, pp. 85. 14. Historical and Critical Remarks on the Operation for the Cure of Cataract. By A. Watson, M.D. Edinburgh, 1845. 8vo, pp. 35. 15. On the Treatment of Strictures of the Urethra. By James Briggs, Surgeon. London, 1845. 8vo, pp. 62. 2s. 6d. 16. On the Health of Towns, as influenced by Defective Cleansing and Drainage. By W. A. Guy, M.B. London, 1846. 8vo, pp. 48. 1s. 17. On the Incubation of Insanity. By Forbes Winslow, M.D. London, 1846. 8vo, pp. 23. 18. On the Injurious Effects of Mineral Poisons in the Practice of Medicine. By H. Prater, M.D. London, 1846. 8vo, pp. 96. 19. Lectures on the Urine, and on the Pathology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Urinary Diseases. By J. Aldridge, M.D. Dublin, 1846. 8vo, pp. 80. 2s. 6d. 20. Kissingen. By N. A. Travis, M. D. Francfort. 12mo, pp. 32. 1s. 21. Homœopathy, Allopathy, and Young Physic. By John Forbes, M.D. Philadelphia, 1846. 8vo, pp. 120. 22. The Use of the Body in relation to the Mind. By G. Moore, M.D. London, 1846. 8vo, pp. 431. 9s. 23. The Surgical, Mechanical, and Medical Treatment of the Teeth. By J. Robinson. London, 1846. 8vo, pp. 320. 10s. By 24. Medical Report of the House of Recovery and Fever Hospital, Boyle street, Dublin. G. A. Kennedy, M.D. Dublin, 1846. 8vo, pp. 52. 25. Experimental Researches on the Food of Animals, with Remarks on the Food of Man. By R. D. Thomson, M.D. London, 1846. 8vo, pp. 195. 26. Elements of Physics. By C. F. Peschel. Translated from the German by E. West. 3 vols. London, 1846. 8vo. 27. Practical Observations on Mineral Waters and Baths. By E. Lee. London, 1846. 8vo, pp. 134. 4s. 6d. 28. Dr. Hooper's Physician's Vade Mecum. By Dr. Guy. New edition. 1846. 8vo, pp. 29. A Medical Topography of Tunbridge Wells. By R. H. Powell, M.D. London, 1846. 8vo, pp. 174. 3s. 6d. 30. Clinical Collections and Observations in Surgery. By W. P. Ormerod, Surgeon. Lond. 1846. 8vo, pp. 312. 31. Fever Physiologically considered. By D. M. Reed. London, 1846. 8vo, pp. 262. 10s. 32. The Antidotal Treatment of Cholera. By R. Parkin, M.D. London, 1846. 8vo, pp. 48.2s. 6d. 33. The Microscopical Anatomy of the Human Body. By A. H. Hassall, F.L.S. 8vo. 1846. Parts I and II. 2s. 6d. each. 34. A Practical Treatise on the Diseases of Children. By J. M. Coley, M.D. London, 1846. 8vo, pp. 467. 14s. 35. Notes on the Epidemic Cholera of India. By A. H. Kennedy. London, 1846. 8vo. 10s. 6d. 36. Handbuch der Pathologie und Therapie. Von Dr. C. A. Wunderlich, Professor zu Tübingen. Stuttgart, 1846. 37. The Harveian Oration, delivered before the Royal College of Physicians. By John Elliotson, M.D., F.R.S. London, 1846. 8vo, pp. 70, 2s. 38. The Blood, Anatomically, Physiologically, and Pathologically considered. The Warneford Prize Essay for 1845. By C. E. Joseph, M.R.C.S. London, 1846. 8vo, pp. 126. 39. Observations on the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia. By Richard Phillips, F.R.S., &c. Lond. 1846. 8vo, pp. 56. 40. The Mineral Waters of Kreutznach. By J. E. P. Prieger, M.D. Translated by O. Prieger, M.D. London, 1846. 8vo, pp. 92. 3s. 6d. |