metallotherapy 的词源

“通过外部应用金属治疗疾病”，这个说法最早出现在1856年，来源于希腊语的 metallon，是 metal（金属）和 therapy（治疗）的结合。

First formulated as a system by Burq in 1848, and hence often called Burqism, it has been recently revived by Charcot. Simple disks of various metals are employed in contact with the external parts of the body, from which different therapeutic results are claimed. Other observers assert that all the phenomena described as following the application of metals may be produced by disks of wood, and that whatever curative results are attained are due to mental effects, rather than to any special virtues emanating from the metals themselves. [Century Dictionary, 1895]

这种治疗方法最早由Burq于1848年系统化，因此常被称为 Burqism（Burq主义）。最近又被Charcot复兴。治疗时会使用各种金属制成的简单圆盘，直接接触身体外部，声称可以产生不同的治疗效果。然而，其他观察者认为，所有这些金属应用后出现的现象，其实都可以通过木制圆盘来实现，而任何治疗效果都可能是由于心理作用，而非金属本身的特殊疗效。[《世纪词典》，1895年]