Papers on Health

John Kirk

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of Papers on Health, by John Kirk
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: Papers on Health
Author: John Kirk
Editor: Edward Bruce Kirk
Release Date: May 21, 2007 [EBook #21560]
Language: English
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PAPERS ON HEALTH ***
Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
PAPERS ON HEALTH
ByPROFESSOR KIRK
EDINBURGH
NEW AND COMPLETE ONE-VOLUME EDITION
REVISED AND EDITED BY
EDWARD BRUCE KIRK
LONDON
SIMPKIN MARSHALL HAMILTON KENT & CO. PATERNOSTER ROW
MANCHESTER
ALBERT BROADBENT 19 OXFORD ROAD
GLASGOW
T. D. MORISON 240 HOPE STREET
PHILADELPHIA
THE BROADBENT PRESS 1023 FOULKROD ST. FRANKFORD
1904
COPYRIGHT
IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Printed by Hurst Bros., Shaw Heath, Stockport.
PREFACE.
In his later years my father often expressed to me his desire for the reduction of the eleven volumes of his "Papers on
Health" to a compact one-volume edition; but as long as fresh papers were being written, he saw no use in beginning this
work. In the end the project was interrupted by his last illness and death. Since then, circumstances have prevented the
work being undertaken until the present time.
Having been associated with him in his health work for some ...

Informations

• Publié par: imku
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 44
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Papers on Health, by
John Kirk
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no
cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it,
give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg
License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: Papers on Health
Author: John Kirk
Editor: Edward Bruce Kirk
Release Date: May 21, 2007 [EBook #21560]
Language: English
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK
PAPERS ON HEALTH ***
Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online
Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.netProofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Papers on Health
By
PROFESSOR KIRK
Edinburgh
NEW AND COMPLETE ONE-VOLUME EDITION
REVISED AND EDITED BY
EDWARD BRUCE KIRK
London
Simpkin Marshall Hamilton Kent & Co. Paternoster
Row
Manchester
Albert Broadbent 19 Oxford Road
Glasgow
T. D. Morison 240 Hope StreetPhiladelphia
The Broadbent Press 1023 Foulkrod St. Frankford
1904
COPYRIGHT
IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Printed by Hurst Bros., Shaw Heath, Stockport.
PREFACE.
In his later years my father often expressed to me his
desire for the reduction of the eleven volumes of his
"Papers on Health" to a compact one-volume edition;
but as long as fresh papers were being written, he saw
no use in beginning this work. In the end the project
was interrupted by his last illness and death. Since
then, circumstances have prevented the work being
undertaken until the present time.
Having been associated with him in his health work for
some years, and having often discussed with him all
his methods, I have had considerable advantages in
undertaking to carry out his intention in the shape of
the volume now given to the public.
It represents as nearly as possible the book he
planned himself; and though greatly reduced in bulk,all that is of importance in the original eleven volumes
has been inserted in it. It is complete in every way;
and in many details of treatment, improved methods,
applied in later years by Dr. Kirk, have been
substituted for the older methods he first introduced.
The arrangement in alphabetical order has been very
carefully attended to, and the treatment for any
particular trouble within the scope of the work can be
quickly turned up.
This edition is sent forth in the hope that it may have
even a wider circulation than the last, and may be still
more largely blessed than that has been, to the relief
of suffering humanity.
I would appeal to those who know the value of this
treatment to make the book known to the many who
would benefit by its teaching. The cost of the original
edition was considerable, but this one is sold so
cheaply that anyone may possess it.
EDWARD BRUCE KIRK.
E. U. Manse,
Barrhead, Scotland.
September, 1899.
PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION.
In this edition of "Papers on Health" some changes, as
well as some entirely new features are introduced.The large demand for the first one-volume edition has
made it clear that the public approve of the methods,
both of arrangement and of condensation employed in
it.
Another edition being called for, it appeared evident
that several changes were desirable, in order to bring
the book in line with rapidly increasing medical
knowledge, and to give full effect to more recent
experiences in the application of Dr. Kirk's treatment.
Since the "Papers" were first written, medical, and
especially surgical, practice has very greatly changed,
and some of the practices against which Dr. Kirk most
vehemently protested have passed away. Hence,
certain modifications introduced into this edition, for
which the editor accepts full responsibility. For those
who wish to consult the actual writings of Dr. Kirk, the
original eleven volume edition is still available.
Great advances have also been made in the
knowledge of the causes of disease; and preventive
methods of treatment by regulation of diet and habits
of life are much better understood. To incorporate
some reference to these in a work dealing with health
generally, appeared to us absolutely necessary. For
these additions also the writer accepts responsibility.
Where it appeared to be useful, illustrations have been
introduced, which may help those to whom the
treatment is quite new, to practice it more easily and
correctly, and to understand better the theories on
which it is founded.These changes have enlarged the book, and
somewhat increased the price, which is, however, still
such as to place the volume within the reach of all
classes.
It is most gratifying to know through letters received
from almost all parts of the world, that many are
benefitted very greatly by the treatments described.
We have constant evidence coming before us from
our own experience with patients of the powerful effect
they have in healing the sick, and even saving life. We
send out this new edition in the hope that it may
spread still more widely, the knowledge of such simple
and yet effective means of cure.
EDWARD BRUCE KIRK
E. U. Manse,
Barrhead, Scotland.
July, 1904.
INTRODUCTION.
In this book we set forth a series of simple remedies
and preventives of many common troubles. They are
all well tried and have been proved by long experience
to be effective and safe.
We give, as far as we know, the reasons why they are
likely to do good, but we acknowledge that there are
things which we cannot fully explain. For instance, we
do not know why a well aired lather of M'Clinton's
Soap should have the soothing effect it undoubtedly
possesses, or why spreading handfuls of this latherover the stomach of a person suffering from retching
or indigestion should give such relief, we only know
that it does!
Some may sneer at the remedy and say it is a case of
faith healing and assert that any other application, if
put on with equal credulity, would have the same
effect. But take a case that lately came under our
notice. Indigestion and colic had rendered a baby a
few weeks old restless and miserable from the day of
its birth. The nurse was kept nursing it all night long,
trying to soothe it; at last the mother who had
frequently tried the soap lather for occasional attacks
of indigestion, and always with good effect,
determined to try it on the baby. It worked like a
charm, the little one was at once soothed and slept all
night, only waking once for its food. This was repeated
for several nights, for until the lather was applied the
child would not settle to sleep. In a few days the child
was quite well, the habit of sleeping was established
and the application was discontinued. Now it cannot be
said that faith in the remedy had anything to do with
the result in this case. We only wish every mother
would have faith enough to give this simple treatment
a fair trial, making up the lather as described in this
book and not, as many do, "improving" on our method
by rubbing the soap on the wet skin and making a sort
of lather with the hand.
We may say that the soap used for making this lather
is not M'Clinton's shaving soap. The latter is specially
made to give a thick durable lather; for curative
purposes use the lather from M'Clinton's toilet or
household soap.Again, why should the use of the linen underwear we
recommend have such a beneficial effect on sufferers
from rheumatism and various skin troubles? We have
suggested possible explanations, and if these seem
inadequate we can only say we know that it has these
effects no matter how they are produced.
There are many things in nature that we cannot
explain, and since the discovery of X Rays, Radium,
etc., scientists are much less dogmatic in declaring
anything impossible.
The diet we recommend for health and disease is as
simple and cheap as our other treatment. That plain
fare is good for both mind and body was proved by the
four youths at the Babylonian Court over 2,000 years
ago, but alas people squander that priceless boon,
health, by letting appetite rule their lives.
We only ask for our treatment a fair trial on our lines.
We claim that ours are common sense methods.
Anyone can see that if a head is hot and fevered the
application of a cold towel is likely to lower that heat
and reduce the fever. But it is no use putting a little bit
of wet rag on and then saying our treatment has
failed. Large towels repeatedly changed for an hour or
more may be needed, and this will give more trouble
than administering some dose from the chemist's
shop, but the results are well worth the additional
work.
The day is hastening on when men and women will
see what fools they have been, not because they had
no sense, but certainly because they had failed to usethe abundance which God has given to all.
Not one of the remedies we have recommended can
hurt any one, as they are only those which we have
for years seen used successfully by ordinary persons
who were willing to do their best to cure the suffering.
If we can secure one night of sound sleep, or one day
of comfort for another, we are bound t