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POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



composition of which has been kept in the family for generations. 

 This one will cure every disease ; that one, of more discreet pre- 

 tensions, is only good for some particular disorder, generally an 

 incurable one. A court bailiff prescribes an infallible remedy for 

 epilepsy, consisting of a cat's skin applied to the back, rubbing 

 the belly with ointment, and old brandy in the loins. All are 

 made out after a model like this, and can be judged from it. A 

 vast number of popular errors are built on the advice of these pre- 

 tended specialists. A whole inventory of medicines, each more 

 absurd than the others, may be found in books on madness. Do 



FIG. 2. RUSTIC PHARMACY. An exact representation of the room in which Michel Shappach, 

 known as Medecin de la Montagne (the mountain doctor), held his consultations. Drawn 

 from life by G. Locher in 1774. Engraved at Basle by Barthelemy Hubner in 1775. 

 (Eeduced from an engraving in the collection of M. Gaston Tissandier. ) 



not dispute us, say the authors ; we have the facts to prove the 

 reliability of the doctor and the sureness of the remedy. 



It is certain that, whatever we may say or do, the tendency to 

 these superstitions is not changed. The spread of instruction 

 and of the knowledge of hygiene is of little avail in the contest 

 against inveterate prejudices. Matters are much worse in the 

 field of medicine proper. 



There is a story of a doctor who recognized an old servant in 

 a quack who was doing a large business, and asked him how he 

 accounted for his success. " How many of these fifty persons 



