True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-06-13
For the True Ametcsn.
The shame and Glory Of the
Mediesl Profession.

science and art to which his life is devoted
it will, | trust, prove a subject full o
meaning. Reputation is the shadow 0
action, and the glory and shame of nations
Of professions, or of individuals, sprin2
from inherent virtues and vices, and can
not obtain ascendency except as these yir
tues and vices predominant. TO root ou
imperiections and train all honorable qual
80 go to their fullest capacity of attain
ments is the cart of every lover of hi,
profession or his race. But to heal, We
must first understand the disease, and ther
experience or reason can exhibit RENE
dy. The medical profession is the Oldest
one e1tant, having had its birth il those
earlier ages when imagination reaches
back vaguely and tradition takes the place
Of reliable history. tits perhaps true that
in his primitive condition, ushered into
being by the very hand of an all-wise and
benevolent Creator, man stood forth with
out spot or hlemiSh, a creature of clear
understanding, holy heart, sound and
healthy physical organization, Then
thought was that spontaneous inspiration
by which the knowledge of higher intelli-
gences descended unto men. Religion
was the mingling of the soul with the d.
vine law which it instinctively recognised
and adored, and every nerve of animal ex-
istcnce yibratcd in delicious harmony with
world whose flowers had known no
blight, whose fruitsge was uncankered,
whose skies no clouds had ever overcast,
whose breezes had never reused to fury,
and whose streams were clear as the crys-
tai lymph that flows fast by the city of
God, But this charming scene was not
destined to be eternal. The thirst for un-
lawful knowledge, the desire for that for
hidden tree whose mortal taste brought
death into the world, and all our woe sciz-
ed upon man, and thus entaied its curse.
The divine world into which man was first
placed was world Of order, when every
impression was like a note struck from a
delicate Tyre, full of melody and beauty.
But SIN was the destruction Of that hap
py state, and the Jared cords gave thence
forth no perfect harmony. The mind
could no longer name intuitively the vast
varieties of creation. The soul no longer
with its Maker face to face conversed
And that delicate and beautiful physical
organization which had hitherto been the
avenue Of only the most delicious enjoy.
ment, now felt in every fibre the capacity
for pain, and ws7 liable to decay disease
and death. 1t is the province of all true
science to lead man back to that state from
whence he has so miscrably fallen-tc
teach him tina arena Of wisdom, to raise
his soul in sublime communion with tho
highest and best, to free as far as possible
his physical organization from that imper
fectiOn and suffering of which he is the
acknowledged hereditary possessor. Med
icine was among the first Of sciences t.
engage in this noble work. 1t soon dis
covered that the Creator had furnished
many palliatives and remedies for the sut
ering of the body. TO mans earliest in
quiries, his ingenuity wrought out me
chanical appliances And for his disease
the earth furnished medicinal herbs con
tributing something at least to his relic
and recovery. Thus opens the history O
an art, which lg,s filed Tic world with it
virtues and its blessings. Although med
icine in rude form must have had an eS
istanco carli.r than law or theology, We
We know Comparatively nothing of its hi,
tory until nearly four thousand years wit
many millions of men had passed away
a little more than two thousand years agc
he whom the profession delights to az
knowledge as the father of medicine, tn
loved and honored Hippoerates made h
appearance. In his hands, under the il
auence Of his practical mind and gifte
genius, the healing art received q scicntif
: form, which has not been materially altere
r to this day. Favored with no books (
authorities except those that were pure
' traditionory, he applied himself to the st
0 dy Of disease at the bedside of the sit
and by experiment and observation Ia
c the foundation Of medical sciencc. WI
II ting elaborately and lucidly on vast '
: riety Of medical subjects. In the NJ
n drcd and thirty-Grst year Of the christi
/ era Galen arose at Rome and soon bccar
d the great luminary of that and succeedi
3 ages. His works were admitted as abb
n lutc and unquestionable authority for me
d than thirteen hundred years, and such v
y his hold on the'medical profession, Il
C there were not wanting men of the high
If talent who feltproud IN saying they wot