Thecharacteroftheoppositionwhichsomeofthesepapershavemetwithsuggeststheinferencethattheycontainreallyimportant，butunwelcometruths。Negativesmultipliedintoeachotherchangetheirsignandbecomepositives。Hostilecriticismsmeetingtogetherareoftenequivalenttopraise，andthesquareoffault-findingturnsouttobethesamethingaseulogy。
Butawriterhasrarelysomanyenemiesasitpleaseshimtobelieve。
Self-loveleadsustooverratethenumbersofournegativeconstituency。Thelargerportionofmylimitedcircleofreadersmustbequiteindifferentto，ifnotignorantof，theadverseopinionswhichhavebeenexpressedorrecordedconcerninganyoftheseAddressesorEssaysnowsubmittedtotheirownjudgment。Itisproper，however，toinformthem，thatsomeofthepositionsmaintainedinthesepageshavebeenunsparinglyattacked，withvariousdegreesofability，scholarship，andgood-breeding。Thetoneofcriticismnaturallychangeswithlocalconditionsindifferentpartsofacountryextendedlikeourown，sothatitisoneofthemostconvenientgaugesofthepartialmovementsinthedirectionofcivilization。Itissatisfactorytoadd，thattheviewsassailedhavealsobeenunflinchinglydefendedbyunsoughtchampions，amongtheablestofwhomitispleasanttomention，atthismomentofpoliticalalienation，theEditoroftheCharlestonMedicalJournal。
“CurrentsandCounter-Currents“waswrittenanddeliveredasanOration，afloridrhetoricalcomposition，expresslyintendedtosecuretheattentionofanaudiencenoteasytoholdaslisteners。
Itsucceededindoingthis，andalsoinbeingascuriouslymisunderstoodandmisrepresentedasifithadbeenapoliticalharangue。Thisgaveitmorelocalnotorietythanitmightotherwisehaveattained，sothat，asIlearn，oneingeniouspersonmadeuseofitstitleasanadvertisementtoaproductionofhisown。
Thecommonestmodeofmisrepresentationwasthis：qualifiedpropositions，thewholemeaningofwhichdependedonthequalifications，werestrippedoftheseandtakenasabsolute。Thus，theattempttoestablishapresumptionagainstgivingpoisonstosickpersonswasconsideredasequivalenttocondemningtheuseofthesesubstances。Theonlyimportantinferencethewriterhasbeenabletodrawfromthegreaternumberoftherefutationsofhisopinionswhichhavebeenkindlysenthim，isthatthepreliminaryeducationoftheMedicalProfessionisnotalwayswhatitoughttobe。
Oneconcessionheiswillingtomake，whateversacrificeofprideitmayinvolve。ThestoryofMassasoit，whichhasfurnishedacoral，asitwere，forsometeethingcritics，whensubjectedtoapowerfullogicalanalysis，thoughcorrectinitsessentials，provestohavebeentoldwithexceptionablebreadthofstatement，andthereforetoresumethemetaphorhasbeenslightlyroundedoffatitsedges，soastobesmootherforanywhomaywishtobiteuponithereafter。InotherrespectstheDiscoursehashardlybeentouched。Itisonlyanindividual’sexpression，inhisownway，ofopinionsentertainedbyhundredsoftheMedicalProfessionineverycivilizedcountry，andhasnothinginitwhichonrevisionthewriterseescausetoretractormodify。ThesuperstitionsitattackslieattheveryfoundationofHomoeopathy，andofalmosteveryformofmedicalcharlatanism。
Stillthemereroutinistsandunthinkingartisansinmostcallingsdislikewhatevershakesthedustoutoftheirtraditions，anditmaybeunreasonabletoexpectthatMedicinewillalwaysproveanexceptiontotherule。OnehalftheoppositionwhichthenumericalsystemofLouishasmetwith，asappliedtotheresultsoftreatment，hasbeenowingtothefactthatitshowedthemovementsofdiseasetobefarmoreindependentofthekindofpracticepursuedthanwasagreeabletotheprideofthosewhoseself-confidenceitabated。
Thestatement，thatmedicinesaremoresparinglyusedinphysicians’
familiesthaninmostothers，admitsofaverynaturalexplanation，withoutputtingaharshconstructionuponit，whichitwasnotintendedtoadmit。Outsidepressureislessfeltinthephysician’sownhousehold；thatisall。Ifthisdoesnotsometimesinfluencehimtogivemedicine，orwhatseemstobemedicine，whenamongthosewhohavemoreconfidenceindruggingthanhisownfamilycommonlyhas，thelearnedProfessorDunglisonisherebyrequestedtoapologizeforhisdefinitionofthewordPlacebo，ortoexpungeitfromhisMedicalDictionary。
Onethingiscertain。Aloudoutcryonaslighttouchrevealstheweakspotinaprofession，aswellasinapatient。Itisadoubtfulpolicytoopposethefreestspeechinthoseofourownnumberwhoaretryingtoshowuswheretheyhonestlybelieveourweaknesslies。
VastasaretheadvancesofourScienceandArt，mayitnotpossiblyproveonexaminationthatweretainotheroldbarbarismsbesidetheuseoftheastrologicalsignofJupiter，withwhichweendeavortoinsuregoodlucktoourprescriptions？Isittheactofafriendorafoetotrytopointthemouttoourbrethrenwhenaskedtoaddressthem，andisthespeakertosubduetheconstitutionalhabitofhisstyletoagivenstandard，underpenaltyofgivingoffencetoagraveassembly？
HomoeopathyanditsKindredDelusions“waspublishednearlytwentyyearsago，andhasbeenlongoutofprint，sothattheauthortriedinvaintoprocureacopyuntilthekindnessofafriendsuppliedhimwiththeonlyonehehashadforyears。Afoolishstoryreachedhisearsthathewasattemptingtobuyupstraycopiesforthesakeofsuppressingit。Thiseditionwasinthepressatthatverytime。
ManyoftheargumentscontainedintheLectureshavelostwhatevernoveltytheymayhavepossessed。Allitspredictionshavebeensubmittedtotheformidabletestoftime。Theyappeartohavestoodit，sofar，aboutaswellasmostuninspiredprophecies；indeed，someofthemrequiremuchlessaccommodationthancertaingravecommentatorsemployintheirreadingsoftheancientProphets。
Ifsomestatisticsrecentlypublishedarecorrect，HomoeopathyhasmadeveryslowprogressinEurope。
InallEngland，asitappears，therearehardlyafifthmoreHomoeopathicpractitionersthantherearestudentsattendingLecturesattheMassachusettsMedicalCollegeatthepresenttime。InAmericaithasundoubtedlyprovedmorepopularandlucrative，yethowlooseaholdithasonthepublicconfidenceisshownbythefactthat，whenaspeciallyvaluedlife，whichhasbeenplayedwithbyoneofitsagents，isseriouslythreatened，thefirstthingweexpecttohearisthataregularpractitionerisbythepatient’sbed，andtheHomoeopathiccounselloroverruledordiscarded。Again，howmanyoftheardentandcapriciouspersonswhoembracedHomoeopathyhaverunthewholeroundofpretentiousnovelties；——havebeenboardedatwater-cureestablishments，closetedwithuterineandotherspecialists，andfinallywanderedoverseastoputthemselvesinchargeofforeigncelebrities，whodosedthemaslustilyastheywereeverdosedbeforetheytooktoglobules！ItwillsurprisemanytolearntowhatashadowofashadeHomoeopathyhasdwindledinthehandsofmanyofitsnotedpractitioners。Theitch-doctrineistreatedwithcontempt。Infinitesimaldosesarereplacedbyfulloneswheneverthefancy-practitionerchooses。GoodHomoeopathicreasonscanbefoundforemployinganythingthatanybodywantstoemploy。
Homoeopathyisnowmerelyaname，anunprovedtheory，andaboxofpelletspretendingtobespecifics，which，asallofusknow，failignominiouslyinthosecaseswherewewouldthankfullysacrificeallourprejudicesandgivetheworldtohavethemtruetotheirpromises。
HomoeopathyhasnotdiedoutsorapidlyasTractoration。Perhapsitwaswellthatitshouldnot，forithastaughtusalessonofthehealingfacultyofNaturewhichwasneeded，andforwhichmanyofushavemadeproperacknowledgments。Butitprobablydoesmoreharmthangoodtomedicalscienceatthepresenttime，bykeepingupthedelusionoftreatingeverythingbyspecifics，——theoldbarbarousnotionthatsickpeopleshouldfeedonpoisons[Lachesis，arrow-
poison，obtainedfromaserpentPulte。Crotalushorridus，rattlesnake’svenomNeidhard。ThelessdangerousPediculuscapilisisthefavoriteremedyofDr。Mure，theEnglish’ApostleofHomoeopathy。“Theseareexamplesoftheretrogradecurrentsettingtowardsbarbarism]againstwhichapartoftheDiscourseatthebeginningofthisvolumeisdirected。
Theinfinitesimalglobuleshavenotbecomeacuriosityasyet，likePerkins’sTractors。ButtimeisaveryelasticelementinGeologyandProphecy。IfDaniel’sseventyweeksmeanfourhundredandninetyyears，asthelearnedPrideauxandothershavesettleditthattheydo，the“notmanyyears“ofmypredictionmaybestretchedoutagenerationortwobeyondourtime，ifnecessary，whentheprophecywillnodoubtprovetrue。
ItmightbefittingtoaddafewwordswithregardtotheEssayontheContagiousnessofPuerperalFever。ButthewholequestionI
considertobenowtransferredfromthedomainofmedicalinquirytotheconsiderationofLifeInsuranceagenciesandGrandJuries。ForthejustificationofthissomewhatsharplyaccentedlanguageImustreferthereadertothepaperitselffordetailswhichIregrettohavebeenforcedtoplaceonpermanentrecord。
BOSTON，January，1861。
ASECONDPREFACE。
TheseLecturesandEssaysarearrangedintheordercorrespondingtothedateoftheirdeliveryorpublication。Theymust，ofcourse，bereadwithaconstantreferencetothesedates，bysuchascaretoreadthem。Ihavenotattemptedtomodernizetheiraspectorcharacterinpresentingthem，inthissomewhatalteredconnection，tothepublic。SeveralofthemwerecontainedinaformervolumewhichreceiveditsnamefromtheAddresscalled“CurrentsandCounter-
Currents。“Someofthosecontainedintheformervolumehavebeenreplacedbyothers。TheEssaycalled“MechanismofVitalActions“
hasbeentransferredtoadistinctcollectionofMiscellaneousessays，formingaseparatevolume。
IhadsomeintentionofincludingwiththesepapersanEssayonIntermittentFeverinNewEngland，whichreceivedoneoftheBoylstonprizesin1837，andwaspublishedinthefollowingyear。Butasthiswasuponasubjectoflocalinterest，chiefly，andwouldhavetakenupagooddealofroom，Ithoughtitbesttoleaveitout，trustingthatthestraycopiestobemetwithinmustybook-shopswouldsufficientlysupplythenotveryextensiveorurgentdemandforapaperalmosthalfacenturyold。
Someofthesepaperscreatedalittlestirwhentheyfirstfellfromthepressintothepoolofpublicconsciousness。Theywillslideinveryquietlynowinthisnewedition，andfindoutforthemselveswhetherthewatersarethoseofLethe，orwhethertheyaretoliveforatimeasnotwhollyunvaluedreminiscences。
March21，1883。
PREFACETOTHENEWEDITION。
TheseEssaysareoldenoughnowtogoalonewithoutstafforcrutchintheshapeofPrefaces。Averyfewwordsmaybeaconveniencetothereaderwhotakesupthebookandwishestoknowwhatheislikelytofindinit。
HOMOEOPATHYANDITSKINDREDDELUSIONS。
Homoeopathyhasprovedlucrative，andsolongasitcontinuestobesowillsurelyexist，——assurelyasastrology，palmistry，andothermethodsofgettingalivingoutoftheweaknessandcredulityofmankindandwomankind。Thoughithasnopretensionstobeconsideredasbelongingamongthesciences，itmaybelookeduponbyascientificmanasacuriousobjectofstudyamongthevagariesofthehumanmind。Itsinfluenceforgoodorthecontrarymaybemadeamatterofcalminvestigation。IhavestudieditintheEssaybeforethereader，undertheaspectofanextravagantandpurelyimaginativecreationofitsfounder。Sincethatfirstessaywaswritten，nearlyhalfacenturyago，wehaveallhadachancetowitnessitspracticalworking。Twooppositeinferencesmaybedrawnfromitsdoctrinesandpractice。Thefirstisthatwhichisacceptedbyitsdisciples。
Thisisthatalldiseasesare“cured“bydrugs。Theoppositeconclusionisdrawnbyamuchlargernumberofpersons。Astheyseethatpatientsareverycommonlygettingwellundertreatmentbyinfinitesimaldrugging，whichtheyconsiderequivalenttonomedicationatall，theycometodisbelieveineveryformofdruggingandputtheirwholetrustin“nature。“Thusexperience，“Fromseemingevilstilleducinggood，“
hasshownthatthedealersinthispreposteroussystemofpseudo-
therapeuticshavecooperatedwiththewiserclassofpractitionersinbreakingupthesystemofover-dosingandover-druggingwhichhasbeenoneofthestandingreproachesofmedicalpractice。While。
keepingupthemiserabledelusionthatdiseaseswerealltobe“cured“bydrugging，Homoeopathyhasbeenunintentionallyshowingthattheywouldverygenerallygetwellwithoutanydruggingatall。
Inthemeantimethenewerdoctrinesofthe“mindcure，“the“faithcure，“andtherestareencroachingontheterritorysolongmonopolizedbythatmostingeniousofthepseudo-sciences。Itwouldnotbesurprisingifitswholegroundshouldbetakenpossessionofbythesenewclaimantswiththeirflatteringappealstotheimaginativeclassofpersonsopentosuchattacks。Similiasimilabusmayprovefatallytrueforonce，ifHomoeopathyiskilledoutbyitsnew-bornrivals。
Ittakesaverymoderateamountoferuditiontounearthacharlatanlikethesupposedfatheroftheinfinitesimaldosingsystem。TherealinventorofthatspecioustrickerywasanIrishmanbythenameofButler。Thewholestoryistobefoundinthe“OrtusMedicinm“ofVanHelmont。Ihavegivensomeaccountofhischapter“Butler“indifferentarticles，butIwouldreferthestudentsofourHomoeopathiceducationalinstitutionstotheoriginal，whichtheywillfindveryinterestingandcurious。
CURRENTSANDCOUNTER-CURRENTS
Myattackonover-druggingbroughtoutsomehostilecommentsandtreatment。ThirtyyearsagoIexpressedmyselfwithmorevivacitythanIshouldshowifIwerewritingonthesamesubjectstoday。
Someofmymorelivelyremarkscalledoutverysharpanimadversion。
Thusmyillustrationofpreventionasoftenbetterthantreatmentinthemother’swordstoherchildwhichhadgotapoisonousberryinitsmouth，——“Spititout！“gavemortaloffencetoawell-knownNewYorkpractitionerandwriter，whoadvisedtheMassachusettsMedicalSocietytospitouttheoffendingspeaker。Worsethanthiswasmystatementofmybeliefthatifaship-loadofmiscellaneousdrugs，withcertainveryimportantexceptions，——drugs，manyofwhichwerethenoftengivenneedlesslyandinexcess，asthenused“couldbesunktothebottomofthesea，itwouldbeallthebetterformankindandalltheworseforthefishes。“Thiswastoobad。Thesentencewasmisquoted，quotedwithoutitsqualifyingconditions，andfrightenedsomeofmyworthyprofessionalbrethrenasmuchasifI
hadtoldthemtothrowallphysictothedogs。Butfortheepigrammaticstingthesentimentwouldhavebeenunnoticedasaharmlessoverstatementattheveryworst。