CHAPTER XVI.
THOMSONISM.
Perhaps no empirical scheme ever had a more vigorous inception, was nursed and propagated with more indomitable ardor, or could boast of more rapid progress, than Thomsonism. Thirty years ago, men calling themselves Thomsonian doctors might be found in almost every part of the United States. Public opinion in medical matters seemed to be shaken as with an earthquake, and rude unlettered quacks rode rampant over the country.
The author of this system (as it was called) was Samuel Thomson, who was born in the town of Alstead, in the State of New Hampshire, Feb. 9th, 1769. His parents were poor, and he suffered much from sickness and hardships during his early life. He had little or no opportunity for acquiring even the rudiments of a common school education. His minority was devoted to
