Excerpt from Dr. Foote's Home Cyclopedia of Popular Medical, Social and Sexual Science: Embracing His New Book on Health and Disease, With Recipes, Treating of the Human System, Hygiene and Sanitation, Causes, Prevention, Cure, and Home Treatment of Chronic Diseases My object in preparing this work is to supply a desideratum which has long existed, Le a medical work, reviewing first causes as well as facts and ultimate effects, written in language strictly mundane, and comprehensible alike to the -lowly inmate of a basement and the exquisite student of an attic studio; and if successful in fulfilling the promise of the title-page, I have too much confidence in the intelligence of the masses and the erudition of the unprejudiced scholar to believe that it will be received with unappreciation or indifference. Many of the theories which these pages will advance are certainly new and antagonistic to those popularly entertained, but it does not follow that they are incorrect or un worthy the consideration of the philosophical and physiological inquirer. They are founded upon careful observation, experiment, and extensive medical practice. And if the truth of the theories may be judged by the success of the latter, then do they unmistakably possess soundness as well as originality. For living monu ments to the skill and success of the author have been and are being daily raised from beds of sickness and debility in every part of the world. If these remarks sound boastful, be not less ready to pardon the conceit of a successful physician than that of a victorious soldier. The successful military chieftain is notoriously conceiwd is it not as honorable and elevating to save life as to destroy it i If a man may boast that he has slain hundreds, cannot his egotism be indulged if he has saved the lives of thousands i I shall claim the soldier's prerogative, for when medical charlatans of every street-comer are blowing their trumpets, it does not behoove the successful physician to nurse his modesty. What I write, however, shall be written in candor, and with an honest intention of enlightening and ben efiting humanity. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.