Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-12-09
COMMUNICATIONS.
MEDICAL NOTICE.


The undersigned were appointed Committee
Wy the Vermont Medical Society, at It's last annual
meeting, held At Montpelier, Oct. 10, 1912, 10 AL
dress gentlemen OF their profession, in relation to
the condition of said Society and the interests Of
the profession generally IN doing this, we are
conscious that the Limits probably allowed us by
the edlUria! corps will render brevity ndispensa-
ble hut we nre also conscious that the prevalence
of elnpricism, nnd the erroneous impressions en-
ertuiued by muny of our citizens in relation TO
the importance OF medical SCIENCE render an effort
necessary TO dlflllse intelligence and redeem the
profession from reproach, and the public from
ruinOus Imposition.
Vermont may not be behind our ssler states in
the number or character of our medical schools,
or in the intellectual or professional attaiumenls Of
her physicians. Yet, every discerning philanlhro-
pist has much TO deplnre, when Inc takes survey
OF the practice Of medicine generally, in our state.
The preparatory education Of many of our physi-
clans, through limited means, II want OF encour-
ngemeni given by the public, is not such as to give
them an elevated position in society us scholars,
philosophers, or men. Their limited income, in
practice, fails TO furnish the means requisite for
the purchase of libraries mud instruments or even
All ample stock of medicines, aud in very many
instances their lime, which ought to he devoted to
reading and pharmaceutlc preparations, 10 neces'
surlly devoted to other occupations to sustain
themselves and their families. Now, -ghy is it
thus Some OF the causes, III the estimation II
the committee, will b. briefly enumerated.
The history OF medicine shows that il was mn
cienlly associated with magic and superstition,
and IN the public MUD they have never been en-
trey discovered. Tie plata, unalorned truth, in
relation to theory or practice, obtains but lew MI
mrers while cniholIcons, or e rain cures Ol sew
cnih sons, Indian doctors and steamers, re-
ce,e great favor The rank, open, scientific
prescription OF an Intelligent practitioner, from IT.
simplicity, is deemed Inefficient or regarded with
disrust: while the assistance of the mouniehank
or pateuiee is sought with u>ldi!y, aud, generally
III advance, literally re Hnrded-huh tor his Secret
aud mysterious gmedies, and for his Wholesale
and malicious slandcr Of the regular proIession
" Z have only to east un eve upon NJ least one
broad side of almost any newspaper to discover
the extent of the sale OF uuStruus aud patented
prescriptions, and to he cuuvinced that reliance,
by many, for re'iei under hodlly sGilerings, is
placed elsewhere than upon scientific ply scIaus.
While such is The state Of things, and that too in
this emil ghlened aye of the wCrd, what Cncnur-
agement Tor young uan To spend his thousands
Ivy way of preparation, or his hundreds for books
and his tinIe III readIng ?-wheu If conscience
were qnieted, he could make more money aud oh
tain more OF one Kind ol celebrity without knowl-
edge than with
But, brethren, this state ol things il not destined
to cndure-while hgh and knowledge pervude
all other professions and subjects tie heaiiag art
must rot, will not dwell ia darkness superstition
and ignorance. But to remove the evil, efforts
and sacrifices must be made TO produce u more
correct public senment--lic profession must hu
aroused TO the defence Of The truth and tie expO-
sure OF lmposture ana deIusOn, aud thereby Gle.
waite lis position to IT'S meriied standing among the
other professions aud liberal arts.
One OF the means TO effect tins oil, ect is the re-
animation of our medical societies, aud The found
ing them upon II basis which will ensure their
perreiuny. An association OF men OF the same
profession is attended with invaluable advantage
Y. Is 70 van mi
promotes cordiary aud affection Among brethren
--hnd it especially begels spirit of enterprise
and inquiry utier truth, which leads to investiga
ton and research. The best talent may he drawn
out and employed for the edlfcalion and nstruc-
ton OF others, and as knowledge is reciprocal, all
will he benefited. Then again library, with
very small expense, comparatively, piny iA.arcu-
niUiated IN every county, IN some ineasuFe rs
substitute for private libraries, aud made The
means of extensive usefulness, well us nflOrding
inducement 10 membership, and runctuaiiy in
attendance on society meetings. Aud the COM
miitce are further of the opinion, that tie State
Society should be sustained as in some the
parent of the county societies, at which annually
should be congregaed their delegates, and all 9TH
crs " 40 take an interest in its weliarc-to consult
upon It's necessities, and TO devise means for the
promotion Of the best interests of the profession
and Tie public good. An institution of this kind
was chartered IN 1913, and for several years was
sustained with luudable spirit aud corresponding
advantages bur more recently, like most OF the
county sOrcties, II had fallen into decline, and
de acto" expired. Last year, by the perseverug
labors and eXerIions ot few lndi, lduals, lis lc-
mains were careful ~ exumned, and n resusctl-
ting process comm need, when, 10! its pIlsa he
gan to beat, II feeble respiration reassulned
and It's vitality III some measure was restored
And now it is for the profession to say, whether
its existence shall hcnceionh be vigorous mud
healthy, or whether history shall record It's pres
ent apparent animation 20 have been hut II few
spusuodIc struggles, Immediately preceding It's
final extinction. Mutureiy to consider this ques-
ton, an al burned meeting Of the Society VIII he
holden ut the State House, IN Montpelier on The
day preceding the Convention Tor considering the
proposed amendments to our Suite Constitution,
and full attendance is respectfully bu! earnestly
solicited
W. Il. RANNEY, NJ. d. }
JAMES SPALDING, VI. d. Committee.
Il. r. DuRNHAM, NJ. ID.
Montpelier Nov. 25 1912
DERBY, Nov %, 1912.