按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of the eye； and cyclamen in diseases of the ear because of its resemblance
to that part； and the Egyptian organotherapy had the same basis；spleen
would cure spleen； heart； heart； etc。 In the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries these doctrines of sympathies and antipathies were much in
vogue。 A Scotchman； Sylvester Rattray； edited in the 〃Theatrum
Sympatheticum〃＇15＇ all the writings upon the sympathies and antipathies
of man with animal； vegetable and mineral substances； and the whole art
of physics was based on this principle。
＇15＇ Rattray： Theatrum Sympatheticum； Norimberge； MDCLXII。
Upon this theory of 〃mumia；〃 or magnetic force； the sympathetic cure
of disease was based。 The weapon salve； the sympathetic ointment； and
the famous powder of sympathy were the instruments through which it
acted。 The magnetic cure of wounds became the vogue。 Van Helmont
adopted these views in his famous treatise 〃De Magnetica Vulnerum
Curatione；〃＇16＇ in which he asserted that cures were wrought through
magnetic influence。 How close they came to modern views of wound
infection may be judged from the following： 〃Upon the solution of Unity
in any part the ambient air 。 。 。 repleted with various evaporations or
aporrhoeas of mixt bodies； especially such as are then suffering the act of
putrefaction； violently invadeth the part and thereupon impresseth an
exotic miasm or noxious diathesis； which disposeth the blood successively
arriving at the wound； to putrefaction； by the intervention of
fermentation。〃 With his magnetic sympathy； Van Helmont expressed
clearly the doctrine of immunity and the cure of disease by immune sera：
〃For he who has once recovered from that disease hath not only obtained a
pure balsaamical blood； whereby for the future he is rendered free from
any recidivation of the same evil； but also infallibly cures the same
affection in his neighbour 。 。 。 and by the mysterious power of Magnetism
transplants that balsaam and conserving quality into the blood of another。〃
He was rash enough to go further and say that the cures effected by the
relics of the saints were also due to the same causea statement which led
112
… Page 113…
THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN MEDICINE
to a great discussion with the theologians and to Van Helmont's arrest for
heresy； and small wonder； when he makes such bold statements as 〃Let the
Divine enquire only concerning God； the Naturalist concerning Nature；〃
and 〃God in the production of miracles does for the most part walk hand
in hand with Nature。〃
＇16＇ An English translation by Walter Charleton appeared in 1650；
entitled 〃A Ternary of Paradoxes。〃
That wandering genius； Sir Kenelm Digby； did much to popularize
this method of treatment by his lecture on the 〃Powder of Sympathy。〃＇17＇
His powder was composed of copperas alone or mixed with gum
tragacanth。 He regarded the cure as effected through the subtle influence
of the sympathetic spirits or； as Highmore says； by 〃atomicall energy
wrought at a distance；〃 and the remedy could be applied to the wound
itself； or to a cloth soaked in the blood or secretions； or to the weapon that
caused the wound。 One factor leading to success may have been that in the
directions which Digby gave for treating the wound （in the celebrated case
of James Howell； for instance）； it was to be let alone and kept clean。 The
practice is alluded to very frequently by the poets。 In the 〃Lay of the Last
Minstrel〃 we find the following：
＇17 French edition； 1668； English translation； same year。 For a
discussion on the author of the weapon salve see Van Helmont； who gives
the various formulas。 Highmore （1651） says the 〃powder is a Zaphyrian
salt calcined by a celestial fire operating in Leo and Cancer into a Lunar
complexion。〃
But she has ta'en the broken lance； And wash'd it from the clotted
gore； And salved the splinter o'er and o'er。 William of Deloraine； in trance；
Whene'er she turn'd it round and round； Twisted； as if she gall'd his wound；
Then to her maidens she did say； That he should be whole man and sound；
（Canto iii； xxiii。）
and in Dryden's 〃Tempest〃 （V； 1） Ariel says：
Anoint the Sword which pierc'd him with the Weapon…Salve； And
wrap it close from Air till I have time To visit him again。
From Van Helmont comes the famous story of the new nose that
dropped off in sympathy with the dead arm from which it was taken； and
113
… Page 114…
THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN MEDICINE
the source of the famous lines of Hudibras。 As I have not seen the original
story quoted of late years it may be worth while to give it： 〃A certain
inhabitant of Bruxels； in a combat had his nose mowed off； addressed
himself to Tagliacozzus； a famous Chirurgein； living at Bononia； that he
might procure a new one； and when he feared the incision of his own arm；
he hired a Porter to admit it； out of whose arm； having first given the
reward agreed upon； at length he dig'd a new nose。 About thirteen moneths
after his return to his own Countrey； on a sudden the ingrafted nose grew
cold； putrified； and within few days drops off。 To those of his friends that
were curious in the exploration of the cause of this unexpected misfortune；
it was discovered； that the Porter expired； neer about the same punctilio of
time； wherein the nose grew frigid and cadaverous。 There are at Bruxels
yet surviving；some of good repute； that were eye…witnesses of these
occurrences。〃＇18＇
＇18＇ Charleton： Of the Magnetic Cure of Wounds； London； 1650； p。
13。
Equally in the history of science and of medicine； 1542 is a starred
year； marked by a revolution in our knowledge alike of Macrocosm and
Microcosm。 In Frauenburg； the town physician and a canon； now nearing
the Psalmist limit and his end； had sent to the press the studies of a
lifetime〃De revolutionibus orbium coelestium。〃 It was no new thought；
no new demonstration that Copernicus thus gave to his generation。
Centuries before； men of the keenest scientific minds from Pythagoras on
had worked out a heliocentric theory； fully promulgated by Aristarchus；
and very generally accepted by the brilliant investigators of the
Alexandrian school； but in the long interval； lapped in Oriental lethargy；
man had been content to acknowledge that the heavens declare the glory
of God and that the firmament sheweth his handiwork。 There had been
great astronomers before Copernicus。 In the fifteenth century Nicholas of
Cusa and Regiomontanus had hinted at the heliocentric theory； but 1512
marks an epoch in the history of science； since for all time Copernicus put
the problem in a way that compelled acquiescence。
Nor did Copernicus announce a truth perfect and complete； not to be
modified； but there were many contradictions and lacunae which the work
114
… Page 115…
THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN MEDICINE
of subsequent observers had to reconcile and fill up。 For long years
Copernicus had brooded over the great thoughts which his careful
observation had compelled。 We can imagine the touching scene in the little
town when his friend Osiander brought the first copy of the precious
volume hot from the press； a well enough printed book。 Already on his
deathbed； stricken with a long illness； the old man must have had doubts
how his work would be received； though years before Pope Clement VII
had sent him encouraging words。 Fortunately death saved him from the
〃rending〃 which is the portion of so many innovators and discoverers。 His
great contemporary reformer； Luther； expressed the view of the day when
he said the fool will turn topsy…turvy the whole art of astronomy； but the
Bible says that Joshua commanded the Sun to stand still； not the