viii ''INTRODUCTION. 



•cotfee ; therefore, by parity of reason, we ought to 

 debar ourselves of them also. 



Hahnemann, who daily enjoyed his glass of beer 

 and his pipe, took both these favorites under his 

 protection, declaring them less obnoxious than tea 

 and coffee ; but, who can blame me for having in- 

 clinations of an opposite cast? I cannot endure 

 strong beer, and smoking produces nausea, whilst 

 I find tea and coflFee very agreeable, never experienc- 

 ing the slightest injurious effect from either of them, 

 for, I am accustomed to both Similar results will 

 necessarily occur to every one who habitually uses 

 certain special articles of diet. We daily con- 

 sume a considerable quantity of common salt, in 

 our various dishes. Many would be surprised, 

 could they see the yearly amount collected into one 

 mass ; and would be inclined to think, that our 

 stomachs, and, perhaps, our intestines, also, would 

 finally bex:ome crusted with a coat of salt : yet, 

 whilst in combination with our diet, it does not 

 produce any striking, or sensible effects, it, never- 

 theless, proves a very efficacious remedy, when 

 administered as a medicament, in proper doses. 



On attentively considering what I have just 

 stated, the reader cannot think it extraordinary 

 that I regard the two medical systems, Alloeopathia 

 and Uomoeopathia, as two opposite poles. The first 

 rushes into the field, armed with enormous pills, 

 and bottles of all sizes, containing the most powerful 

 mixtures, striking at the foe with wild and deadly 

 force ; the other, with less martial display, attacks 

 the enemy in a manner which seems the quintes- 

 sence of feebleness and inertia — a small case, con- 

 taining pygmean flasks, filled with lillpiutian pills 



