Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-12-19
FOR THE ENQUIRER.

IOlC 4 NE E.NQUIREI2
i1''''e n o. ssttsr tT1m gentlemen in the Up
per country, to has friend in Richmond
have for some time past been denIor;nc ~,
cVh consequences, which are daily reSuItin,
from the facility with which Ouqclr Docia,s
impose themselves upon the credrity OF the
PnpncLana, from the enlishteued character
On ui'r Ias, LEGISLATURE, had entertained the
opinion tiiat the grievance. (for rs such I v;a,v
NJ would no longer have been per,nitted y,
continue relressed. Rut probabjv Tho oil
mas been ton little noticed by those. whose ne
lunar province II IS 10 provide n corrective
for, II observed, and seriousl> evar,;,,od ;,
eouid MOI nave been conceived nuworihv tba
regard OF that respectable body. ~
ne General Assembly must be far from con-
eit,S 1nc pubic 70 he the best Judges of pro-
iessioDai merit or they never would havemado
itreqHisite Tor lawyer to produce certifcates
OF character and legal knowledge. preyious tn
an ADMISSION To the Bar. And surely If those
10 "non' alone we can commit our Ltigafed rs,
tdtes Tor management, are OBLIGED I'm nroJ,,no
testiIrona!s of their qualifications bo touhon,
orr oearer heafthand Hres are entrusted shonjd
auduce equal proof of professional abiJ;tv -
But SO lar rs this from being the case that ev-
els "i'i'I,lan VINO mas grown too indoeut to
NAT an honest livelihood by his trade has
morning more to do, than remove to a stranoa
HetSnporhood, and dub himself Docfor i'm or
ger 10 acquire tile professional confidence
T'hoH ss''achcu 10 the most regularly taught
m ac
easy to forcSee the consequences which ,nus.
result. WHY" must
hat many valuable lives are yearly LAST h,
iics'ise on tiiis SORT is not only evident. from
ins teducticns OF reason, but liyinr Witnesses
might be adduced, who couIJ Jenosa 20 $50
which would satisfy the most scentical mind
res, " necessary, the names of psrticuIsr ;,,I;
Vinuals might be mentioned, who. placed in
uirtuhstances emost interesting, have fallen
Vic,ins to the imposing professions of Ouacls.
an" many more have. and will continue tn ~
come charges TO their friends, or the nnbiic
through TINS very means. 1t is the opipion az
sp'ne' tidt these unqualified practitioners if
they do no good at least do no harm - =
one, however, founded in the sr,..+ast 60. 40
asalnss whlcn, It becomes the duty of ev.rv
pan OF sense, solemnly TO protest. yhose ,vl,o
nave embraced this doctrine, have surely nc
Ill eI 'rnec,es tilat he, who by his attendance
iuiiS Tue patient into security or precIndee tt,o
services OF others who could be beneficial IL
10 an inients and purposes as dancerous fo tlo
SAFETY OF ms fellow creatures, as he who d;rect
~ !, TO their injury. Moreover. an
adoption OF this sentiment would he cnunto
nanclng principle, which every mar, of 80
sense must reJect-namely, that the nndistnrh-
eu operations OF nature will proue less e,fcjs,,t
than when interrupted by the unskiIIful interl'
terence OF ignorance.
You will doubtless be suror;eed - Oh. ;,c,
nation that there are, at this enIinbtened Ja,,
IN the state of Virginia, anv sucE cbaractorrs,
as mr''dts; yet, such is the fact-and wbat ;s
more ns astonishing IS that there are multitude
OF people, who will dismiss a physician in evo-
ry respect entitled to their coniidepce ,nJ sov,d
oo or ioo mileS-yea, even from North Carroll.
ma 10 tne middle parts of this state for tLo adj
wee lone OF these profound Doctors (fornro-
i IoSa ne nust PEI who derives all his know
iedge on the patients situation. from an ;nsnoc-
non OF the rim of urine, which must aIvravs bo
sent along. ''' "i""S> Oe
In addition to the unhappy consequence.
already mentioned, which must attend n tole'
gu" ~ sucn practices, must notice one 9th
I'd encouragement tn medical scieuce-A
Ianous mathematician being asked by a nerson
-! hiShrahk, whether he could explain TO him
MS ART more conipeDdiOusly, replied that there
waS no royal way to geometry. Other things
may be seized by might. or purchased b, ~
inney, but kpowiedge must lie gained bv stud, .
ms remark may, with proDrioty no arnI;oJ
10 me knowledge Of Phvsic. 1t bejnT an J.,
suiated science, none but its peculiar votarics
can know much Tespectinpit & IN hero,,c In
acquainted with all its diverse branchoe ,.,,'id
require more than lifetime Of study aud oil
sefyatIon. The importance of the obiocts il |
processes, no less than regard TO the r..ruta
'lVh anu rewards which have fallen To fie ot Of
so"le OF lts practitioners, has insDtgrd many
young men otprOmse, with an ardent leal IN
their medical pursuits. But at the most i'm
poTtant luncturc, they have either riven ~, |
theIr profession through disgust-or ifconnei /
iyu 10 pursue II for "a livelihood, their exer- /
uons nave been relaxed. by obserDiug tbc /
mo lucrative profits Of their profession horne
on by lmp0stOTs who, by the arts of deco,
ton and ialsehood, will, with a certain class |
glin greater patronage, than can be pfocmr' |
ca by tie protoundest learning. united viii |
me most unsullied honesty. The stimulus 10 |
Improvement. will generally perish will, fhc |
nope OF fccO!Hpencp and, with il All f,,,.o |
prospect OF ennence and utility. In this va
many young men Of talents nave been loci ~ |
tue profession, who would otherwise. b,vc Le
come ITS brightcstornanent
90 trust, that cnr present enlio-l,ter.Jr
stature may take the matter into lhoi, ecr;os'.
Consideration; and finally, make such nrovi'
SONS, as shall IN future, excadc rom the rr,c.
nee OF medicine, all those who either hyye~ot
regularly graduated, or passed an examination
~, ~ ,nose competent tojudge Of their quaiGca
VIRGINIA LEGISLATgRF
TC4rr.N-sv -. - - -