Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-07-17


pockets of his patients and removes; org
having obtained the character OF cheap
remains to dive deeply into their purses
during the next summer and autumn
but occasionally falling to make even the
prices of his medicines, he gathers what
he can and runs away.
When presenting these outlines of 8,
very common species of animals, we do
not wish to advocate the cause of regular
physicians any further than the best in
terests Of the public demand it. We do
not pretend to say that some OF the best
fitted for the profession, are blameless IN
their general character or professional
conduct, because after all they are but
men, with vices and with passions like
ourselves;' but we are not to charge the
abuse of attainments as reason for dis
carding them or for fixing stigma on
the profession generally; nor because in
some instances we have been forced To
pay what we consider high amount for
skill to cure, should we prefer low
amount for unskifulness to kill. 1ftherc
be any efficacy in medicines, there muse
be knowledge to ascertain their proper
ties, and proportionate skill to apply
them properly. Of the extent of any
mans attainments in subject with
which we are not conyersant, we are it,
capable of judging, but are obliged to
have recourse to the testimony OF those
who are. In every department Of life
except medicine we acknowledge this
axiom. The ministers of every religious
sect are required to exhibit credentials
of their qualifications and permission to
perform their sacred duties, even the pri-
vate members are necessitated 10 pro-
duce certificates of their former respecta-
Bile standing before fellowship can be OBJ
tanned. The lawyer, whose constant in
tercourse with the members of the bar
would be sufficient to detect the fallacy
othis pretensions, is nevertheless refused
admittance to practice unless he sustains
a satisfactory examination and obtains
license. Bat the physician, whose er-
rors are of the most serious consequence
to society; whose ignorance or rashness
may produce ehecs, never to be repaired
but ever to be deplored by whose mis-.
management our parents, consorts, chill
dren and friends may be untimeiy bur-
red into eternity; the physician may not
know the A b c of his profession and
yet be entrusted with the important,
charge Of attending upon all the ills
that flesh is heir to- No testimony OF
his merit from the proper tribunals is re-
quested, and the wide door of quackery
is thus laid open to every pretender.---
Our worthy Legislators have with sagest
malice endeavored to give every en-
couragementto creatures Of this descrip-
tion-the news has 1own--the sickiy
season is coming on--and the buzzards
allured by the scent of prey are already
ilocking in to their summer home.
1t rs On acknowledged fact that The best,
educated and best hractised i,hysicians
Of different sections efthe country, re-
quire tgpo or three gears erherience to
make Themselves hrohcrly acquainted
pfth the diseases Of thiS--and the setec-
ton Of their medicines is consequently
as misera6iy defective as their Practice
for that fimc mast Be. During this pc
Rod how many valuable lives may be
lost, but how many more when in the
hands OF those of whom we treat. :,
But the people will not reflect, will
not consider Dishonesty, personal
pique, even novelty will induce many to-
apply to the negy doctor while the pro-
fessonal skill Of the long resident phy.,
stefan cannot be impeached; while his
previous services and privations in order
to make permanent establishment 1,
should entitle him to the patronage and
gratitude of the public; but frequently
they dearly pay the forfeit of such con-
duct with their lives. In addition to the
preservation of health and the saving OF
life in the diseases of this country, in
which the longest resident physician Of
ofequal capacity and acquiremen,s) has
superior advantages Overt the new conner,
there is another consideration which may
touch the avaricious, and which ought "
TO be felt by the poor--the young Or
late adventurer in medicine must have
his money--must be paid in a short time
in order to meet his expenses--or, If
from policy he continues running in debt
in preference to scaling on his patients
the first season or two, at the next, the
money mast come for his arrangements
are totally unprovided for the new order
of doing business here, by trade: and
when goodly amount is charged lie
must sue, and to avoid popular cla.nor
change his place again. But he against:
whom that clamor has already been ex-
cited, having weat!icred the storm ofim-
mediate necessity, and intending to make,