MEDICINE t77 



heaven which does not find its corresponding principle 

 in the inner heaven of man ; the above acts upon the 

 below, and the latter reacts upon the former." 



3. The physician ought to be an Alchemist; that 

 is to say, he ought to be regenerated in the spirit of 

 Jesus Christ and know his own divine powers. 



" He should be an Alchemist ; that is to say, he 

 should understand the Chemistry of Life. Medicine is 

 not merely a science, but an art; it does not consist 

 merely in compounding pills and plasters and drugs of 

 all kinds, but it deals with the processes of life, which 

 must be understood before they can be guided. All 

 art, all wisdom, all power, acts from one centre to- 

 wards the periphery of the circle, and whatever is en- 

 closed within that circle may be regarded as medicine. 

 A powerful will can cure where doubt will end in 

 failure. The character of the physician acts more power- 

 fully upon the patient than all the drugs employed. 

 A carpenter or a mason will fail to make perfect work 

 without compass and square, and a physician without 

 religion and firmness will be a failure. Alchemy — i.e., 

 the employment of a strong will, benevolence, charity, 

 patience, &c. — is, therefore, the principal corner-stone in 

 the practice of medicine." 



*' The psychical surroundings of the patient have a 

 great influence upon the course of his disease. If he 

 is waited upon by persons who are in sympathy with 

 him, it will be far better for him than if his wife or 

 his attendants wish for his death. In a case of sickness, 

 the patient, the physician, and the attendants should be, 

 80 to say, all one heart and one soul, and they should 

 always keep in mind the doctrine of Christ, which 

 says : *' Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself " ^ 

 (Comm. in Aph. Hippocr.). 



^ We should sympathise with the patient, but not with hia disease. 

 We should not confirm him in his morbid fancies, or encourage him 

 in believing himself sick. The majority of sick people lack the energy 



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