Vindication of the pre-eminent efficacy of manual operations in the cure of rheumatic and nervous diseases : against the malignant and unprincipled attempts of certain members of the medical profession to decry and obstruct the practice / by William Balfour.

Date:
1834
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Vindication of the pre-eminent efficacy of manual operations in the cure of rheumatic and nervous diseases : against the malignant and unprincipled attempts of certain members of the medical profession to decry and obstruct the practice / by William Balfour. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    In 1812 I discovered that Compression of a part affected with Rheumatism, immediately removed, or suspended, pain. This fact I turned over and over in my mind, for two years. At length an opportunity occurred, of extend- ing my observations to the same effect. From that period (June 1814) I have employed Manual Operations for the cure of Rheumatic and Nervous Complaints, and with a degree of success, in many instances, almost beyond belief. From the moment of its promulgation, my discovery was regarded by the higher orders* of the Medical Pro- fession, as the accomplishment of a desideratum ; as no disease incident to man so often baffles the skill of the physician, and defies the power of medicine, as Rheuma- tism. Accordingly, patients in every grade of life, from every quarter of the United Kingdom, and some from foreign parts, resorted to me, in circumstances the most hopeless; and obtained perfect and permanent cures, by the applica- tion alone of that wonderful contrivance of Infinite Wisdom, the hand, after all other remedies had proved ineffectual. For the truth of this, I can appeal to a host of honour- able and learned personages, consisting, among many other no less respectable individuals, of Nobility and Gentry of both sexes, Members of Parliament, Judges, Generals, Admirals, Divines, Lawyers, Physicians, Surgeons—not one of whom is capable of advancing what is not in strict accordance with truth. See the TcsIimoniuU So. I. hereto annexed.