Towards early herd immunity in Australia .
Its spine cover missing , foxed, wormed and soiled , the above 1892 book by John Hern ,published in Melbourne , just disinterred in North Queensland , is soon to go into quarantine .
An explanation slip says it contains extracts from many of the most eminent medical authorities on the Continent and in America . It went on to say many copies of the book had been sold for one pound , but now it was being offered for three shillings and sixpence.
At the back of the book is an advert for the forthcoming February 1,1893 monthly magazine , Hygienic Messenger of Health .
Because the magazine resulted in large numbers of letters being received daily asking advice, Hern said all such requests must now be accompanied by ten shillings and sixpence . All those letters were regarded as confidential , destroyed immediately dealt with .
Ladies , he assured , could depend on getting the best advice obtainable for female complaints . In an Adelaide advertisement Hern mentioned his wife's part in treating women and the couple's joint hope to one day see doctors and drug shops a thing of the past in the colonies.
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In the preface to the book , Hern , of 39 Bourke Street, Melbourne , said the growing interest in health was due to the fact that "the race is positively deteriorating physically , mentally and perhaps morally."
A most hopefull sign of the times were the large number of works published on the subject which were unsparing in their denunciation of the "abominable drug treatment which has for too long numbered its victims by the thousand every year. "
"Human vultures", he said, had for years taken advantage of those seeking relief and amassed tremendous fortunes from the sale of the most nauseous , worthless and pernicious compounds .
It was hoped that the end of drug treatment of diseases was drawing nigh . Later on he acknowledged the fact that the idea of every man being his own doctor was exceedingly unpopular.
The opening chapter was headed The Futility of Drugs. Concluding remarks invoke the Creator, God , our Maker , obedience to the will of God .
Quotes of note :
* If you wish to see what the world is like when you are 100 years old-then don't eat any more butcher's meat .
* No vegetarian ever gets drunk.
* On the diet of children - Hern, disagreeing with advice by Dr R. C. Newton, said they should not touch meat until 15 years old, and then very sparingly.
* Do not drink beer, cider or spirits if doing heavy work - make a drink out of oatmeal , boiled water and brown sugar . In this day and age , this is surely sound advice for truckies, shelf stackers and the CFMEU.
