If we search the history of quackery, we shall find that it consists of a multitude of pathies and isms—of pretended discoveries and great improvements. Each one has enjoyed its brief day of favor, and passed off to make room for others, perhaps differing in external appearance, but always of the same cryptogamian class and mushroom genus.
We often hear persons declare that they do not know what to do, or what to believe, in regard to medicine, because there are so many different courses pointed out. If such people would just make use of the same common sense that they exercise in their every-day affairs, there would be no difficulty in the matter; they would always come to a speedy and correct conclusion. If one wishes for a guide in matters of law, he does not consult the newspapers, or take the advice of all the females in his neighborhood, but makes inquiry of some learned counsellor. If he wishes to know the value of some strange piece of metal, he goes directly to the goldsmith, and he does not think lightly of his opinion because the man may have pursued the
