THE MEDICINES OF NATURE 29
is not a science." It is not to be wondered at, that they came to this conclusion, when we take even a cursory glance at the unscientific remedial agents and methods which they employ in their efforts to cure. There has been too much false reasoning in regard to medicine. For instance, a physician or patient complains that a certain remedy has lost its effect. If we use reason and consider for a moment, we will quickly see that the nature of a remedy, in itself, never changes. This is a fact of the greatest importance. On this point, Prof. Kirk of Edin-burg, Scotland, says:
" 'Circumstances change but essential natures never. A remedy is always the same in nature, and will have the same effect whenever it is used in the same circumstances. It is not wise, merely to say that the remedy has lost its effect and throw it aside as useless. True skill in such a case looks to the circumstances. The remedy has done all it could reasonably be expected to do; but the circumstances have changed, and another effect is now required.
" 'When we take the common sense view of the matter we are left free to discover the real remedy. We have seen the benefit of this many times over when the actual remedy was found, applied, and the patient cured. This remedy has often proved in many cases exceedingly simple. For instance, we have placed a finger on the root of a nerve supplying the muscles to the part in which the pain was felt and that pain instantly ceased. We have continued the treatment for perhaps half an hour or so and the pain did not return. We were told that all our remedies had failed. Every one of those remedies had had its true effect and had never lost that, only it was another remedy that was required. What was needed was only a little knowledge of the wondrous system of the living frame of man.
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