350 PRINCIPLES OF TREATMENT. 



seem to be inconsistent with the predetermined conclu- 

 sion accepted by this active minority, are to be ignored 

 or denied. But notwithstanding all the advantages, 

 resulting from the tendencies of thought at this time, 

 therapeutic nihilism has happily not yet been generally 

 acted upon in this country, nay, it is not always 

 acted upon where it is encouraged as a therapeutical 

 maxim. Practitioners, it is to be hoped, will not soon 

 be brought to admit that between the remedies pre- 

 scribed by them, and certain results which follow soon 

 after the remedies in question have been introduced 

 into the body, there is no relation and this, although 

 the same sequence of phenomena is noticed in case 

 after case. Is it an easy matter for anyone to convince 

 himself that a medicine which produces certain quieting 

 effects in health is useless in disease in which restless- 

 ness is painfully manifested, although this restlessness 

 may be certainly relieved and without any harm result- 

 ing from the administration of the remedy in question ? 

 No one will deny, for example, that opium acts upon 

 the system in a special manner, but many talk as if 

 they doubted whether this action of opium was of the 

 slightest advantage, or was desirable, in disease. 

 Nay, they seem to argue that, although opium and 

 other remedies do undoubtedly allay pain, it by no 

 means follows that such drugs are of any advantage, 

 or ought to be given, in certain morbid conditions 

 accompanied by pain, distress, and suffering, notwith- 

 standing these very remedies have been given, and 



