The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-08-18
For the Spirit of Democracy.


Mr.. ED1ToR-If you will be so kind as
to give me little space in the columns Of
your valuable paper, without crowding out
the advertisement for the Pain Killer, Rad.
ways Ready Relief, or any other patent
nostrum, purporting to be Of such i'm
mense Importance in relieving human suf.
fering, and preserving human life; will
attempt to answer the following inquiry, by
giving some reasons why the attainments
OF those engaged in the practice Of medi.
cine, in this county, are not higher
The question was asked by patient
laboring under dysentery, and who pre-
sumo thought the curative process rather
slow, "Why it was that we had no good
physicians in this county, or why i, was
that our physicians, as general thing,
are inferior in point of scientific attain
men!s to those OF the adjoining counties?"
| promptly answered his interrogatory,
by telling him that he was either unac-
quainted with the physicians of the coun-
ty, or mistaken as 10 their attainments.
That we have a number of good physi-
clans, within the limits of the county can
not be disputed. A number of men who
have acquainted themselves well with the
elementary principles Of the science Of
medicine, and who must in time, with
proper encouragement, become eminent
in their profession.
We have acquired the habit of over.
rating the ability Of professional men at
distance. We hear of their fame, which
produces in our mind kind of respect,
or veneration for their professional opin.
ions. Blu: let US acquant ourselves with
the men; call them to treat similar cases,
and | dare say that in nine cases out of
ten, their arm will be found as impuissant
as our own. This is comparatively new
county, and we are, pecuniarly, poor
people. The agricultural portion of our
community, are honest and industrious
husbandmen; but, as general thing, are
located upon small lots of land, consum.
ing, themselves, nearly the sum total OF the
products of their farms. Hence our me.
chanics and professional men have to con.
tent themselves with but small gains
This is the true reason why physicians
of eminence do not locate amongus. We
are not ableto make them sufficient recon-
pense for their professional services.
Advancement in professional knowledge
keeps pace with the progress of general
intelligence. 1t is impossible for the en-
piric to sustain himself long in an intelli.
gent community. Men that reason and
think cannot long be duped; but will un.
mask and expose the false theories of the
quack. 1t is too true that large portion
of our population are blind to their own in.
terest. They do not distinguish between
the regularly educated physician and the
quack who starts up and assumes the anne
of Doctor-between the man who has
spent years Of diligent research in be.
coming thoroughly acquainted with the
science of medicine, and the one who,
without any qualifications, except igno.
rance and impudence, unblushlngly pro.
claims himself master of the healing art;
and, not unlrequently, by narrating his
mysterious and miraculous cures, induces
the unsuspecting to employ him; thus af.
fording him an opportunity for accomplish.
ing his mercenary ends; the error Of which
is not realised until death, or permanent
disability. exhibits their folly. The means
by which his miraculous cures are per.
formed, being, Of course, a profound Sc
cret, learned from some unlettered old
Indian, or Negro! Away with such philan.
throPy! Away with such quacks! The
quack will express himself, in relation to-
the treatment Of all cases, in positive terms.
The enlightened physician always doubt.
ingly. Thispositive mode Of asserting his
ability to afford relief in all cases, gives
confidence to the unsuspecting, who think
that he would not thus express himself,
did he not really know what he could do;
when the truth is that it is ignorance alone
that gives him his selEconfdsnce. "Igno.
rance gives confidence without power.''
This is one great reason why our physi-
clans are not possessed of more science.