Athothis : a satire on modern medicine / by Thomas C. Minor.

medical attendant may say, ' You have liver complaint,' and the invalid is satisfied ; for, knowing that every man has a liver, and that in the natural course of events the hepatic organ, like other viscera, is liable to disease, the sufferer's curiosity is gratified, and his mind placed at ease." " Precisely so !" replied Doctor Rusticus; " and, there- fore, I argue 'tis bad policy to gratify a patient's morbid curiosity, unless the subject of disease be a person of in- telligence and phlegmatic temperament, for the human imagination in the vast number of persons is exceedingly vivid, and your client is apt to magnify the importance of his symptoms. Thus, out of a really insignificant affection, serious organic troubles may be induced. I have known patients whom doctors had declared weak lunged, die of hasty consumption, when really at its onset the complaint was a trifling bronchitis. I have observed men die of heart disease and apoplexy, in order to ratify the previously expressed opinions of some practitioner in whom they had confidence. The effect of mind on matter have never been sufficiently studied. I contend that a true doctor should quiet the anxiety of his patient before remedial agents can be successfully employed." " I fear," said the student doubtingly, " that you agree with Broussais that the real science of medicine consists in the art of cheering the sick with—with hope." " You are partially right," responded Doctor Rusticus ; " and I insist that it is the duty of the physician to cure his patient, and not merely express what the laity con- sider a scientific opinion; for what, after all, do one's pa- tients know of medical theories? I find in my practice that those who have implicit confidence in my profes- sional skill, who take their medicine in faith, asking no