The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-12-25

SINGULAR MEDICAL ExpLosoNs-QUAcKERY IN
THE METROPOLIS. understand that the celebra-
ted DR.. Lucus Comstock was lately arrested, a
warrant issued by Mr. Justice Drnker, predicated
upon several affidavits made by several medical prac
titioners and others. Prince John Davis was the
officer who served the warrant and captured the
Doctor. DIR. Comstock gave his parole for his ap-
pearance and examination, and we trust that after
the investigation had, he will have safe deliver
ance. The Doctor himself, to our knowledge, is
quite an amiabc individual, honest and courteous
to fault-his greatest is, that he belongs to
the irregular profession, and practices on system
OF medicine not recognized by the schools. He APP
pears to have been very successful in life, sporting
splendid horses in town, and driving four in hand
when he goes into the country Owing to this sig
nal success in his profession, he has excited the
jealousy and rivalry of his competitors in the same
ae of business-we mean the irregular medical
profession in New York or in other words, the
quacks of the great metropolis.
Whatever may be the termination of this affair,
or the circumstances out of which it grew, have
every reason to believe that general and compre-
hensive movement is contemplated which will lead
to the action of the criminal authorities of this city,
leading to the most amusing the most exciting and
splendid explosions IN medical quackery which have
ever taken place in any city, since the era OF Sodom
and Gomorrah. There can be no denying the sun
at MONDAY, without cloud IN the sky The city
of New York, and all the great Atlantic cities, have
been overrun with series of medical practitioners,
both male and female, whose ignorance, folly, We
nalty, corruption and atrocity, are beginning to ex
cite deep alarm in the bosom of society, and in the
family circle, and which also begins particularly to
excite the attention of the regularly qualified pro-
fession.
Within the last few years, New York and other
cities have been overrun by these quacks, from all
quarters Of the world; and several among them, by
impudence, trick, tact, and shrewdness, have sue
ceeded in obtaining distinction and wealth. besides
honors of all kinds, which are not accorded to the
soundly educated and regular physician. We have
known horse-doctors from Mexico, and plcK-pock-
cts from Canada, to come to some one OF the Allan
TIC cities and set up the practice OF medicine, who,
by flaming advertisements, have obtained practice
which has led to independent fortunes, and intro
duced them to the best society of the neighborhood
where they lived. We have heard, even, OF lndivl-
duals who have displayed their talent in stealing
horses in the West, or running away ponies from the
East and after their escape from justice, have land
ed in New York, and began their career as doctors
OF medicine, without knowing how, even, to mix or
decipher prescription. These men, by sheer as
surance and impudence, have succeeded In becom-
ing leaders of society, and, elevated high In civil
life, pass with splendid horses and carriages, the
poor but regularly educated practitioner on foot.
We have heard of adventures from Lond on, who,
coming here and spending fortune, have turned
their attention to the medical avenue, and Obtained
practice as accoucheurs, through the greenness of
fashionable patrons. These men, from sheer igno
rance, impudence, and brutality, have spread DEATH
desolation, and destruction from family to family III
the different parts of the city where they have ope
understanding mothers and their babes, with equal
Indifference to their graves. Then the number
of pill shops and medical booths has astonish
ingly increased, and the quantity of new mixtures
is quite surprislng-thelr names alone would fill a
volume
In short, this state of the medical practice IN New
York; and all other Atlantic Cities requires, and
we believe, will soon receive, attention from all the
intelligent classes of society. Death, destruction
decentralization, and we might say robbery and muir
DER are perpetrated on the community, under the
forms of medicine, by these ignorant creatures who
without education or preparation, assume PROBES
sion which only merits encouragement where it II
pursued by those who have gone through regular
course and colleges. In these remarks, we make
no allusion to any individual, nor do we make refe
renee to any class of persons-it is the system
alone that we describe and condemn-a system
which is blot and stain TO the intelligent society
of this country. We have in this city two splendit
medical schools well patronised, perfectly organis
ed, and managed by professors of the best capaci
ty yet in the face of these efforts and endeavors t.
confer elevation upon the profession, we may SCI
how Ignorance, folly and prelension prosper ant
succeed among those who may be denominatet
the respectable classes of society.
If the movement now contemplated before
grand jury, and also petit jury, should be sup
ported by the intelligence and good sense of The
public, we trust 1t may be beneficial to society,"
to the medical profession at large.
OUR CIVIL COURTS, in accordance with prevail
ing custom and established usage, stand severaIy