44 A HANDBOOK FOR SOUTHPORT. 



ing that his present condition has been the result of a long 

 continued divergence from the standard of health, in some one 

 or more of the functions or organs, before there resulted what 

 forms his actual disease ; he forgets, or does not understand, 

 that the healing powers of Nature, however encouraged and 

 aided by Art, when they have really begun to remedy the evil, 

 can only return to the healthy condition at a similar pace. 

 He lays himself open, consequently, to every promising offer 

 of a royal road to recovery. Systems surround him on every 

 side promising the speedy fulfilment of his most ardent 

 wishes, their claims endorsed by this and that enthusiastic 

 friend. Comparisons are made between his case and others, 

 based upon the slightest resemblances, and without even an 

 attempt to ascertain how far those resemblances are real or 

 only apparent 



The mingling of truth with falsehood which exists in 

 medical heresies, is the real source of their success. A system 

 of pure error could not exist for a day. But when a portion 

 of truth is recognised in an otherwise false system, it conceals 

 its real nature as a whole, owing to the difficulty of discrimi- 

 nating in matters so alien to an invalid's ordinary pursuits. 

 But it must be admitted that the present state of medical 

 heresies is to some extent a legacy from the former system 

 of medical practice, and which, possibly, has still its adherents. 

 It is only fair to say that the present state of things cannot 

 be altogether accounted for by the weakness and credulity 

 of the public; something must be put down to the mystery 

 and excessive medication of former times. The public were 

 greatly to blame for the mystery, since they persisted in 

 attributing a power to the medical man beyond all reason; 



