Excerpt from An Improved System of Botanic Medicine, Vol. 2: Founded Upon Correct Physiological Principles; Embracing a Concise View of Anatomy and Physiology; Together With an Illustration of the New Theory of Medicine

And these general remedies are so systematically and har moniously adapted to each other, and to the human body; and their principles and modes of administration so simplified, that any family possessing an ordinary share of common sense, may become their own physician in almost all' cases of disease. We very well know that this doctrine is contrary to the com mon ideas of people in general, and of the medical F aculty in particular; but it has been verified, especially of late years, on a very extensive scale, and also has the countenance of some of the best men who have ever adorned the science of medi cine. John howard, the celebrated English philanthropist, said that every man must be his own physician; he must pre scribe for, and practice on himself. And Dr. Rush, whose be nevolence was of the same enlightened and liberal cast with john howard's, recommends the general diffusion of medical knowledge, by an academical education: for the essential prin' ciples of medicine, says he, are very few, and plain. All the morbid effects, continues he, of heat and cold, of eating and drinking, and the exercises (f the body and mind, may be taught with as much ease asxthe multiplication table.

These are the sentiments of meneminent for their philan thropy and scientific attainments; and the extraordinary suc cess attending the botanical practice, in the hands of families, abundantly confirms their correctness. We boldly challenge the world for any instances of success, in the old schools' of medicine, equal to that which has attended the Botanical prac tice in the hands of the people themselves. And to this end are we laboring to take the practice of medicine out of the hands of the physicians, and place it where it ought to be; in short, to produce a new and correct order of things, as Dr. Rush also says, when the knowledge and use of medicine, by the people, shall be considered amongst the most essential articles and rights of man.

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