Papers on Health

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Papers on Health, by John Kirk

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Title: Papers on Health
Author: John Kirk
Editor: Edward Bruce Kirk
Release Date: May 21, 2007 [EBook #21560]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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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.

Transcriber's Note: The topic of Throat, Sore (Clergyman's) includes advice for enunciating the vowels in their natural order ([=a], ay, ee, o, oo). The use of [=a] indicates that the a has a macron over it, since a macron cannot be represented in Latin 1 character set.

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