Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-01-08
To the Physicians of North Carolina

is known 10 you, that effort is being made BY
portion OF your contemporaries 10 improve the med
cai profession OF the State, and discover means bes
cat uIaIed TO promote the health and protect the lives
of The people.
This move, ii was hoped. would have me, the gen.
erous approval OF every citizen, and ready response
anu prompt cooperation from every Physician in the
State vino teels proper pride for his profession and
himself but the best and wisely concerted plans
Tor edeciing good, often meet with disappointment
and This audad!e effort put forth in April 10, has
only et 10 Say the most for it, with partial
Although there have been found few who ha %
properly appreciated the Obi ects of Associations
We are constrained to regret that large majority of
me MEDICAL men OF the State have yet identified
themselves with them. OF these some are quite in
uIHefenl to the undertaking, while others. whose
yves we are iett 10 surtnise, either secretly.
openly opposed TO the project, which is, in design
ana tendency, obviously calculated 10 advance their
Interest by promoting the dignity of the protest.
Iiy.
Seeing the necessity for more general interest in
'hs movement among The members of The profession
Tile Medical Society of The Stale of n orth Carolina
al lis last meeting in Wilmington, appointed the I'M
resigned committee to address you, and invite your
cooperation with them in the objects proposed.
Proceeding 10 the discharge of the duty imposed
upon u.s. we ask your attentions the objects of the
Society, set forth in the second article Of its con-
sutatlon. 1t Is in these words The objects of
this Society shall be The advancement Of Medical
knowledge; the elevation of professional character
and Inc proLotion of all measures of professional
nature that adapted relief of suffering hu-
mainly, and to improve the health, and protect the
lives of the community
10 advance in knowledge, and keep pace with the
progress OF the age, the object Of every enlightened
mind. The wonderful achievements in the mechanic
arts, the improved system of instruction in schools
and colleges, and the improvements in agricul-
ture BY the scientific application OF the laws of Chem
lsfTy, are proofs of the assertion. Can any means
calculated to advance Medical knowledge fail TO meet
the appreciation of PhVsician no has
ior science, and the good of his profession and his
fellow men at heart! Surely not, for their contem-
pIatIon, not only affords pleasure to his mind, but
they prove valuable contributions to his resources in
the daily conflict with disease and DEATH md STRENGTH
en- his confidence and resolution in the fearful strug-
gle Nor can we doubt but that it is the wish O
every one to see our ennobling profession elevated in
Its social, moral and intellectual character and hold
ing in public opinion that honorable position assigned
TO law and divinity. 1t cannot be that any intelligent
mlnd with single impulse Of professional pride, can
reflect on the degraded estimate placed upon US by
large portion of the community-n iux,aposilion
with enPircism in the shape of Thompsoniansm,
EciectcIsm, and huckstering Homeopathy, without
having his cheek sufused with a burning blush of
81
The character of our profession must first be ele-
vated high and honorable estimate placed upon it
by ourselves. and line broad as the wide ocean
be drawn between it and the ignorant and false svs-
TENS OF the day, before expect that consider
alton and respect it merts and should claim from the
If man places low estimate upon his own char
acier, and fails to demand the respect of his fellow
men, he will find but too that the community not
only adopts his estimate, but is ready to sink him
below the degraded position he has assumed. With
equal proPtiey may this be said of the profession of
Medicine. If its members by their acts degrade
II to level with emPrcism, by panderng the pre-
JUDGES and Gelusons Of the day, nothing can be ex-
pected of the community that will maintain its Dig
nty and give it that respectful distinction it Justly
merits. ''
To ,ieI
among the Medical of the State and no fear of
popular prejudice, apprehension of opposition
and no selfish love of gain should deter them nor
VIII Inc hlgh-minded Physician who is jealous of the
OF his profession be swerved from his daty
" men ne once he is satisfied what that duty is.
mere ls' we are induced believe an opinion pre-
ta'lng IN some portions of the Stale that all the
n'sreS' manifested in organizing Medical Societies.