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Selected Messages Book 2
deranged, that her blood was impure, and moved sluggishly, and that
her stomach was in a cold, inactive condition. He said that he would
give her active remedies which would soon improve her condition. He
gave her a powder from a vial upon which was written, Nux Vom-
ica. I watched to see what effect this would have upon the patient.
It appeared to act favorably. Her condition seemed better. She was
animated, and even seemed cheerful and active.
My attention was then called to still another case. I was introduced
into the sick room of a young man who was in a high fever. A physician
was standing by the bedside of the sufferer with a portion of medicine
taken from a vial upon which was written Calomel. He administered
this chemical poison, and a change seemed to take place, but not for
the better.
I was then shown still another case. It was that of a female, who
seemed to be suffering much pain. A physician stood by the bedside of
the patient, and was administering medicine, taken from a vial, upon
which was written, Opium. At first this drug seemed to affect the mind.
She talked strangely, but finally became quiet and slept.
My attention was then called to the first case, that of the father who
had lost his wife and two children. The physician was in the sick room,
standing by the bedside of the afflicted daughter. Again he left the
room without giving medicine. The father, when in the presence of the
physician alone seemed deeply moved, and he inquired impatiently,
“Do you intend to do nothing? Will you leave my only daughter to
die?” The physician said,—
“I have listened to the sad history of the death of your much loved
wife, and your two children, and have learned from your own lips
that all three have died while in the care of physicians, while taking
medicines prescribed and administered by their hands. Medicine has
not saved your loved ones, and as a physician I solemnly believe that
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none of them need, or ought to have died. They could have recovered if
they had not been so drugged that nature was enfeebled by abuse, and
finally crushed.” He stated decidedly to the agitated father “I cannot
give medicine to your daughter. I shall only seek to assist nature in
her efforts, by removing every obstruction, and then leave nature to
recover the exhausted energies of the system.” He placed in the father’s
hand a few directions which he enjoined upon him to follow closely.