The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-01-19

surgeon appears calm amid the confusion, he
places lgature upon the bleeding vessel, and life
is saved"
In view Of such melancholy case, with what
justice and truth the following remark Of the cele-
bra,cd Or. Cooper impresses the mind; mo man
ought to be suffered to profess surgery who is not
compeen, to the treatment of wounded arteries,
whether injured by accident or in surgical opera
tons" The practice Of physic is quite as lameHt-
able as that Of surgery ath ough its errors are not
50 easily discerned by the public.
Would it not be well for those members OF the
profession who feel themselves incompetent TO per-
form such surgical operations as admit Of no de-
lay, to either publicly dscaim the practice of sur
gerry or seek further in formation from the oppor-
tunity now offered, near at hand, by the Rush
Medical Coliege1 The doors Of tina, institution,
like all others with which have Ucen acquainted
will, doubtless, be opened gratuitously to all rcgu
lar licenlatcs in the profession. Let no one sup
pose that such a course would be derogalory to
his profess onal reputation. On the contrary he
could do nothing SO well calculated tc advance
his own interest well as that of the public and
establish his professional reputation upon secure
and lasting foundation. The bare idea of being
commonplace, plough-jogging, money-catching
physician or geon-.teehng ,ctthm himself
(whatevcr may be the public opinion Of HIM in
competent 10 discharge, in skilful tnanhtr, the
important trusts committed TO his charge, and
which he profesSes to understand, where the life
of fellow being is a, stake, must, to the ennobled
and philanthropic mind, be mast insu6raJh.
You say, "The profession must look within il
self for the energy and spirit that are to raise it
from its present state Of depression to one of COM
parative intelligence and respectabli,y," &c. This
is very true. And, III aid Of ciltcting so desirable
an object, may not suggest that, as in theology
none who do not possess paramount pic,y and Ia
lent ought to he encouraged to quit the humble
but useful walks in life and exalt themselves to
the high places in Zion so in medicine, no one
who does not possess judgment clear and strong,
quick perception, good discriminating powers of
mind, and uniiring industry, should be encourage
cd, by any member of the profession, to take up
ON himself the great responsibilities of becoming
either physician or surgeon. Such course, ge-
Morally pursued by the profession, would, in time,
do more to elevate the standard of professional
skill! and intelligence, in my humble opinion, than
any thing else, except good medical schools. For
whatever may have been the opportunities and
,f (, H., a.
bedside of the sick, he lacks Judgment, aud fails in
asccraining the true character of the disease, his
Prescriptions will be mere guess-work. They aqy
do good, but, in nine times in ten, they will be
more likely TO do HARM and, should the patient
recover, it would be a fortunate escape from the
injurious effects Of the medicine, while the physi
clan, in his honest simplicity, would congratulate
himself and his patient on having effected won
derful cure.
That the Rush Medical College, ifpropcry pa
tronized and well conducted, will "widen the diff
ference between the medical profession and char
latans of every description, there can he no doubt
And there is just as little that it will ia time, in
great measure, disrobe quackery of its sophis,rv,
strip from error its massey covering, and reud the
veil Of creduty which obscures the public dis
ccrnmcnt in regard TO medicine, by which the dig
nifty of our science has been so long degraded, and
the most valuable labors Of its enlightened vo,a.
res so often coniouudcd with ompiricsm, while
ignorance has stalked through the land, arrogatinc
the prcscriplive righ, of delivering its oraclcs amid
all the ,riumphs Of truth und the progress OF
philosophy.
With many thanks for the numerous tokens Of
your kind regard sent me in the shape Of pcriodi-
Gals, &c, please accept the assurance Of my high
esteem and considerations while
have the honor to remain,
Dear sir,
Your friend and servant,
A. II. ROWLAND.