PREFACE TO THE SEVENTH EDITION. j x 



tic experimentation to assume a direction destined to lead to 

 great results. Rightly supposing that even the rude experience 

 of the ignorant laity and their belief in the all-healing power 

 of the " cold-water cure " and the " bread cure " have some foun- 

 dation in fact, the effects both of hydropathic treatment and that 

 of the continued limitation of the supply of water to the sys- 

 tem have been subjected to rigid analysis. Such laudable abne- 

 gation of sectarian pride has been richly rewarded. Among 

 other results, we owe to it our more accurate knowledge of the 

 effect produced by active abstraction of heat upon the tempera- 

 ture of the body in acute febrile disease. This alone is a great 

 achievement. By its means, a weapon, powerful for good in 

 time of peril, is taken from the hands of the laity, where it has 

 done much harm, and, under control of educated and experienced 

 men, who know its capacity and how to regulate its effect, it has 

 become the common property of science. It is a favorable sign 

 that the warm recognition and support formerly enjoyed by the 

 so-called " doctrine of Eademacher " that wonderful offspring 

 of a clear perception of the errors and failings of traditional 

 therapeutic rules, and of blind submission to the obsolete teach- 

 ings of Paracelsus have become extinct ; and still better, that 

 the number of pure and devout homoeopaths, who, implicitly 

 trusting in homoeopathic tenets and doses, make no use of the 

 developments of therapeutic research, has grown small. 



May these words, and the contents of my book, aid clinical 

 investigation in pursuing more and more the path by which 

 alone its immediate and main object the establishment of thera- 

 peutic facts is to be attained ! 



In conclusion, I tender my cordial thanks to my numerous 

 friends and patrons for their favor; especially to my honored 

 friend and colleague Professor Seitz, of Giessen, for the good 

 counsel with which he has assisted me in the preparation of HIT 

 new edition. (Signed) 



FELIX VON NIEMEYF.R. 



TUBINGEN, October, 1807 



