A narrative of the life and medical discoveries of Samuel Thomson : containing an account of his system of practice, and the manner of curing disease with vegetable medicine, upon a plan entirely new ; to which is added an introduction to his New guide to health, or Botanic family physician ... / written by himself.

  • Thomson, Samuel, 1769-1843.
Date:
1829
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A narrative of the life and medical discoveries of Samuel Thomson : containing an account of his system of practice, and the manner of curing disease with vegetable medicine, upon a plan entirely new ; to which is added an introduction to his New guide to health, or Botanic family physician ... / written by himself. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

    19/198
    On arriving in Walpole, my father proceeded immediately to the house of the famous Dr. Kitteridge, to have him dress my wound, and get his opinion of my situation; he not being at home, and it being nearly dark, we concluded to put up for the night, and I was carried in on my bed and laid by the fire. The doctor soon came home, and on entering the room where I wis, cried out in a very rough manner, Who have you here? His wife answered, a sick man. The devil, replied he, I want no sick man here. I was much terrified by his coarse manner of speak- ing, and thought if he was so rough in his conversation, what will lie be when he comes to dress my wound; but I wis hap- pily disappointed, for he took off the dressing with great care and handled me very tenderly. On seeing the strings that were in the wound, he exclaimed, what the dovil are these halters here for? My father told him they were put in to keep the sore open. He said he thought the sore open enough now, for it is all rotten. Being anxious to know his opinion of me, my father asked him what he thought of my situation. What do I think?said he, Why I think he will die—and then looking very pleasantly at me, said, though ( think young man you will get well first. In the morning he dressed my ancle again and gave me some salve to use in future; and my father asked him for his bill, which was, I think, for our keeping and his attending me, about fifty cents. A great contrast between this and what is charged at the present time by our regular physi ians; for they will hardly look at a person without miking them pay two or three dollars. I have been more particular in describing this interview with Dr. Kitteridge, on account of his exiraordinary gkill in surgery, und the great name he acquired, and justly deserved, among the people throughout the country. His sys- tem of practice was peculiarly his own, and all the medicines lie used were prepared by himself, from the roots and herbs of our own country. He was a very eccentric character and uncouth in his manners; but he possessed a good heart, and by benevoleni disposition. He was governed in his practice a that great plan which is dictated by nature; and the uncommon success he met with, is evidence enough to satisfy any reasona ble mind, of the superiority of it, over what is the practice or. those who become doctors by reading only, with their poison and their insfrumenlsof torture. We le't Walpole nnd arrived at our home about noon, and my mother, brothers and sisters, were much rejoiced to see me '.hough grieved at my distressed situation; and never was acq