26 Introduction 



plied, it is generally admitted that non-toxic doses 

 of a drug are curative of diseased conditions similar 

 to states induced by toxic doses of that drug." So 

 this Homeopathic author first throws overboard 

 nine-tenths of the Homeopathic remedies, and 

 quotes Bartholow, Hempel, Hughes, Ringer, Wood, 

 and others in giving the "characteristics" and "toxic 

 symptoms" of the one-tenth remaining, practically 

 ignoring the Homeopathic "provings"; and then he 

 makes his "therapeutic uses" fit right in to these 

 physiological actions and with the dosage rationally 

 arranged without any "potentizing" or "dynamiz- 

 ing" involved. 



One finds scattered through ancient and medieval 

 medical literature all sorts of theories regarding 

 dosage; no modern theories suggest anything new. 

 After all, dosage is purely a practical question de- 

 termined by matters of fact, not by theories. The 

 "similia" theories of Homeopathy, and the "spe- 

 cific medication" theories of Eclecticism, one can 

 readily see purely as reflections of old thought if 

 he takes the trouble to consult the ancient writings. 

 One is obliged to unload the old empiric thought, 

 even when presented in new dress, and start anew 

 upon as scientific a basis as one may. Practically, 

 the minimum toxic dose is what one should re- 

 member; and he should grade down from that, 

 according to the effect desired. 



SOME OPTIMISM AND PESSIMISM 



The introduction of specific serums and vaccines; 

 the wonderful advances in chemical therapeutics; 

 the various forms of exact technic in treatment 

 these, with surgery, hygiene and sanitation, mechano- 



