Peterman and Acupuncture.

Selected writings of John M. Scudder.

This editorial is selected to show that Eclectic teaching has ever been opposed to secret preparations. Clear, open methods, "that he who runs may read," has been a policy of the school from the beginning, and Dr. Scudder hesitated not to fearlessly harpoon even the whales in medicine when guilty of secret practices or the advocacy of secret medicines.—Ed. Gleaner.

PETERMAN AND ACUPUNCTURE.—I am inclined to believe that Peterman is a "cheap John," though I have seen the time when such advice in improvising cheap means would be very gladly received. We have not objected to the price of an acupuncture instrument, whether the cost be three dollars or twelve dollars, and advise every one who believes in counter-irritation to buy one that looks like business, whether it is the old-fashioned "Lebenswhacker," Baunscheidt, or Brown's.

We confess our dislike to counter-irritation as a means of cure when it can be avoided, and believe that we will require it less and less, as we study our Materia Medica more and more. I can say for myself that I have not used counter-irritation in any form, except Chloroform, for two years past, and have had better success than in the olden time. If I know the proper internal remedy I don't care a snap for external applications.

But what we object to most is secret preparations. We will not use, or advise others to use, any compound of which the exact formula is not given. We use no man's Compound Syrup of Stillingia, or compound of anything else, unless it is presented in such form that every one can make it.—SCUDDER, Eclectic Medical Journal, 1873.

The Biographies of King, Howe, and Scudder, 1912, was written by Harvey Wickes Felter, M. D.