The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-07-28
THE DAILY DISPATCH
Richmond. July 2s, Is.a
PROFESSIONAL. on.onE;=

generation 10 genefauGn, commend us N H.
brotherhood ofthe healing art. The old f.sh
ioned odium teologicuss is milder than a soo,h.
ing draught in comparison. The members of
the profession of arms are, among themselves.
a band OF brothers, and even though in the ser.
vice OF opposing nations, will vindicste each
others honor to the last. They will not even
6ght at the call of duty until all the prelimina-
ries Of equitable warfare are completed.
A similar reEark will be generally foand to
hold good with the legal profession. There is
an esprit ds sorps-a spirit Of clanship-
among lawyers, which establishes good fellow.
ship and courtesy among them. even when ap'
parently at swords points. Standing up for
their cleats, they will battle manfully, and be-
spa,ter and assail each other after terrible
sort; but wait till the hour Of adjournment,
and you will see these quondam antagonists
walking arm in arm, all smiles, and going to
dine together, ike "hale fellows well met"
The only sufferers by their wrangles are their
clients
"Fer lawyers all like scissors keen,
Ne'er cut themselves, but what's between"
The clergyman moves within the narrow cir
Gle of his own creed, as within a fortified Go.
shen, where all is light and truth, surrounded
by Egyptian darkness. His creed is his forti,
6cation. His armament is complete, his spi-
ritual mag azines so amply filled that he would
spurn the offer of any addition, as an impeach
ment of his nfallibiiiy. He feels bound alike
by interest, honor and conscience to defend his
trust. If he attacks his enemies it is behind
their backs, so that he seldom wounds their
feelings, and to the friends Of his own church
militant, such assaults viald nothing but plea
sure. Each reserves his fire, and would con-
slider any violent manifestation Of hostilities as
exceedingly indecorous, to say the least. Cour.
tesy generally prevails in all tbe intercourse of
the regular clergy, and the polemcal diatrbes
of the days of Milton and Salmasius, seem
quite forgotten. OF course We speak not of
the state of things existing among certain new
light,fanatcal preachers ironically so called,
who flourish in perpetual greenness by living
etetnaIIy in shot water" They are exceptions
to all rules, and doubtless always will be.
But with the medical profession the truth of
their science seems to exist, like the harmony
of the universe, as ths mere resultant of antago.
niStic forces, which it is the business ofits pro.
fessors to keep in uuceasing activity. The
Alopathist reviles and scouts the pretensions
of the Hom0 opathist, while both unite (like
the rival factions of Jerusalem during the
siege,J against their common object of con
tempt, the professor of Hydropathy, who re-
turns scorn for scorn.
Even those of the same school are seldom at
peace among themselves. The aIumnus Of
Philadelphia sneers at the graduate of New
York, and 30 throughout knight of the
lancet and pill box swears by the Professors OF
his college, and will hear of no other. The
colleges are rivals, and bespater each other
through the medium of pamphlets and news.
papers, bandying charges of ignorance, stu
pidity and quaekery. Private practitioners
take up the cudgels in their own localities, so
that every neig hborhood blest with two doctors
is likely to have the excitement of one quarrel.
Meanwhile, the poor bewidered and be- physic.
ed public look on Indifferent, or takes sides at
random, to blow the trumpet for their special
favorites. In short, we believe, that two DOG
tors were never known to live in peace in tizs
same neighborhood, except when as partners,
they have agreed for the Time, to "hunt in cos
ples." How they ever manage consulta.
tion" among themselves, is mere than we can
understand. The infaliblity of the Pope is
not to be compared for moment with that as
sumed by certain provincial physicians.
We have been assured that the late John
kearney Rodgers was quack, and Profes. .or
Valentine Mott wind bag and pre,ender.-
We have heard Professor Mussy called
dreamer and theorist, and Sir Ashley Cooper
berated as a careless anatomist, who drew un.
conclusions from phenomena, with
out sufficient observation. We have been sf
len told, confidentiaiiy, by some of those wor.
hies, that such and such persons had been
'eaiiy murdered out and out, by the treatment
1f some rival. Had been called. ,bev would
have been alive and WE'LL" If you listen 10
hem, your ears will ring for a week with all
he technical terms of Physiology and Materia
Med'ca. Oilers very gravely tell you that
'enerai Washington, Bonaparte, Gen. Harri
'on and General Taylor, were all victims TO
ne ignorance Of their medical altendants.-
HAD they been on the spot. their lives would
,a'e been saved, and forthwith YOU have a
heory ior each case, redolent OF blisteriog.
'urging' bleeding, and the Lord knows what.
An unquenchable professional jealousy sssms
o exist which, perhaps. depends upon the un
certainty and vagueness of the ciencs ITSELF
" upon the influence of the deadly drugs,
'hlcn the doctors are obliged 10 handle. Per.
laps neither hypothesis is correct, bat the fact
universally known that doctors, as well ss
'oets' belong TO the "genns irritable. II |
ne merits of the quarrels among the doctors,
nd the soundness of their various theories |
we're to be tested by each mans taking his own
Medicines, we nigh, possibly come at the truth,
the experiment did not kill all the doctors.
This article, in the MS. winds up with
round rebn," the author being unwilling 10
tand his chances on the siek bed-his name
eing known.
RAILROAD STocx.-At o sale Of stock In
,slessbnrg: Tuesday, Railroad sloek sold at