Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1841-04-02
COMMUNICATIONS.
For the Herald.

| MESSRS.
article that appeared in your paper Of the 18th
ul.., propose TO define the meaning OF q"acK-
ery &c., as practised in the healing art.
The preservation OF human health is sub
iect franght with momentous Importance to the
human family, and has consequently engaged
the attention Of the most intelligent men OF the
civilized world ;-without health we cannot
fulfil the intentions of our creatlon.-we cannot
participate in the various pursuits OF lIie-onr
blessings are nappreciated-o"r pleasures I'M
enjoyed, aud we become IN short burthehs 10
ourselves and communi,y,-then truly may ii
be said the science of medicine stands para
mount and may be considered the noblest OF
all. having the grand object in view Of allevia-
tino the sufferincs of the afflicted children OF
humanity, and tina, too by the wsest of all
modes-viz: reasoning from cause 10 effect p'M
| the fearful and ,vonderfM structure Of The humon
bodv for its basis. Anatomy IS considered the
forte of rational medicine; offering ocular DEM
ons,ration to the investigator of the nature,
| seat and morbid changes produced by disease.
| Men who practice medicine without an lntl-
| mate knowledge Of the minute formation OF
| their o1cn Jodies-wlo have not gone through
| series of preparatory study, attended lectures
and been regularly examined by board OF
knowing ones' come under the odlous and
miserable appella,ion Of Quacks--.he meaning
| Of the word is rery erpresstre-viz: TO cry
| like duck;' it is applied more particularly to
| the unlearned, 'rogant and empty dabbler IN
physic. The term quack and hulnbug may In
| general sense be considered synonymous.-
TO prevent imposition and to secure the public
health from the vile hands of empyrecism,
! law has been acknowledged amongst the lovers
of science, forbidding all men from tampering
with the "divine art tut those who have
been educated ;-skiled 10y study, properly
qualified for the responsible calling. 1t Is ow-
| ing TO infringements of this law that we have
| so many pretenders, drones, bunglers and bad
wo,kmen in our ranks. But to illustrate my
assertions by comparison, would ask could
| it lie expected that an illterate lgnoralnus un-
acquainted with tools and material be acquain-
ted and enabled to adjust and repair and put
in good order the complex machinery OF a
watch--(par example,) the movements OF
whic have fallen into state ct disorder! You
NAV answer yes: he, by the faculty Of i'm
itai;on can do it,; but would ask does that
prove him a scientifct ,corhman? By no
means-because 1t is hap-hazard way Of doing
business, and he Who has serred regular aPpren-
| hcestip riH be his master! Medical schools
have been established TO rear men expressly
| for the profession-chartered by legislative
enactment, where it is binding on student 10
attend at least two courses OF lectures, 10 s'a"d
| an i'm atrial examination on the various ola"-
ches of the science, and 1t considered comPe'
tent to practice, diploma is conferred upon
him and the honored title OF M. u. asfxed 10
his name. The private character OF the can
| didate for medical honorS must be uneXception-
able, on the principle that sound morals and
| IN n.
csm is an evil of some extent in our Territory.
| We NEE, from the several portions Of the world,
necessarily unacquain'ed with each other, and
those who nave the dishonesty and tact to de-
ceive have fine field for their exploits in the
"arf of keerdemain," by imposing upon the
unwary, honest and reputable citizen VAIN
glory, duplicity and ignorance are inseparable
! In weak minds and depraved hearts. But to be
more explicit-u quack is an Ignorant prete's-
| der nf that he kno,cs nothing about, an defiance
oftruth, gospel, science and ldw.
1t must be evident to every rejecting and
| rational mind that the soundest judgment and
discrimination, matured by an intimate knowl-
edge of the anatomy of the human frame, is all
important for the successful practice of medi-
cine, when we take into consideration the deli
cate organization, the idiocracy, the versatile
| $500
ture in the several organs and members of the
human organism produced by disease, and the
many agents of the materia medica that are
employed for its subjngation. Although the
nature of vitality or principle of life is beyond
the comprehension of the mind; yet by the
all powerful and Illuminating rays of science
we are dispelling much darkness. Many
- protean maades'' that were in former days
considered tyrants to human life, have been
| brought to the foots:ool Of science, conquered
of its sting, of death, and desola,on. The
victims of that formidable disease of the dome
Of thought: insanity, have been snatched from
lingering out wrctched existence of torment
and hopelessness,-their letters, the CALLING
chains, have been Ioosened and themselves re-
stored TO health, the pleasures Of friendship
and usefulness-who, without the light of SCI
ence, would have died in the dungeons Of a mad
| house,
| "Unwept, unhonorcd and unsung."
| That desoaing scourge or the human fami-
! ly, the small pox, by vaccination, has become
powerless and impotent. by the researches OF
the illustrous Jenner. Improvements in Sur
| gerry, Chemistry, &c. &C., are advancing with
rapid strides, by the divine lamp of science.
Ia the dark ages, exploring the human body
was looked upon with superstiious horror, and
the discovery of the circulation Of the blood,
by the immortal Harvey, rendered him an OBJ
ject of scorn ard reproach but those benight-
ed days have gone by forever, and the sciences
and arts are bestowiag, with lavish hand,
health. happiness and longevity, upon the cftl-
dren of civilization aud refinement.
MILLER.
A CANDID ADMlss1oN.-"I am not an Irish
man myself" said a stump orator recently