Empiricism. [Volume: 2, Issue: 1, August, 1860, pp. 18-20]

EMPIRICISM.

19

has ever retained caste in his profession for one moment, after embarking
in the manufacture or even use of patent medicines or secret remedies?
And what reputable physician ever prescribes a patent medicine unless
its once secret composition is known to the prescriber, whereby only is he
enabled to determine whether some or all of its constituents may not be
contra-indicated in the particular case? Hie who does so becomes as
much an empiric (and is so classed universally) as the patentee himself.
We have been equally cursed in our profession, from time to time, by
the patenting of nearly everything used in our art. Instruments, moulding flasks, cases, chairs, continuous gums, gutta-percha, amalgam rims
electrical machines, etc., many of which were never patented by the
discoverers, who scorned to clothe themselves with professional infamy for
the sake of securing the "almighty dollar."
Gutta-percha was used as a base for teeth before Slayton ever heard of
the article; at least it was so used in England long before the material
was ever introduced into this country for any purpose, and in its natural
state is really durable and serviceable, though dark colored and uncomely
to the sight. The process of purifying, and especially coloring it, so
alters and destroys its original texture as to render it, as a base for teeth,
unless vulcanized, entirely worthless. Agents were scattered, like the
locusts of Egypt, all over the country, selling office rights at $100, $50,
$25, and even $15 and $10; but lo 1 before they had canvassed the entire
country, every case had to be replaced by gold or silver. The guttapercha wore out in six months use, and the bubble burst.
And now comes the amalgam patent, a material used by many dentists,
from time immemorial, for all purposes to which it could be usefully employed. A dentist in an obscure village seizes upon the idea, and secures
a patent, thus precluding the further use of an article even for filling up
irregularities or forming rims for plates. I wonder if it does not "interfere with my patent" to use it for ordinary fillings for decayed teeth.
Certain it is, however, it possesses no advantages over good gold or silver
plate work, is less strong, much heavier, and so porous as to become offensive and utterly worthless. Like gutta-percha, it too has had its day.
Electricity, universally applied to the medical treatment of various
complaints, rheumatisms, spinal diseases) and nervous affections generally,
and in use long before Dr. F. was born, is next patented, or at least for
its application to the painless removal of teeth.
Pure odontalgia, or toothache of a neuralgic character, (always relieved by a gentle current of galvanism,) has long been treated by dentists
and physicians by electro-galvanism, which was occasionally applied as
an anmesthetic in the removal of teeth and other minor surgical operations.
But this patent, like the former alluded to, proved to be not only useless,
(except in pure nervous toothache,) but in many cases absolutely increasing the pain to an incalculable extent.