True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-06-20
For the True American,
The Shame and Glory Of the
Medical Profession.
M. Q.


that the,medical profession are guilty of
vast variety Of faults and criminal defects
Those which l design to exhibit, may be
divided into several classes and in each
must be brief.
Tho first that claim attention, are those
growing out Of defective education. II
is vain tbattempt eoncealmcut fthis fact.
There are those in the Medical profession,
especially in our own country who are
astouishipgly aud disgraeefull5 defcientin
every department Of learning. Formerly
great numbers and at tho present day not
few commence the study of Medicine
without having acquired knowledge of
the fundamental branches taught in COM
mon schools. They come from the plane
the ork-Shop-frOm various avocarions
and some from no ayocation ut all, en-
6rely unlettcred and unprepared for the
Office of the physician and commence their
studies actuated by various and contradic-
tory motives. Some come from an aver
sion to manual labor, others arc attracted
] i.by.tfe honorable position of The medical
profession, others are supposed by their
friends to be endowed with uncommon ge-
nius--a few are seventh sons and therefore
must be physicians. While not Il few
must it be said not a few-are persuaded
absolutely by physicians mainly for their
own convenience thusuuprepared to aspire
to enter Immediately into the ranks of a
learned profession. ". .'.i
! Another class Of young men, and per-
haps the larger Of the two, have received
the clements of common education, but
are entirely ignorant of hehigher branches
= of English while the classics, and the
dead languages, are to them dead In
i deed. tse -.... IL.
A portion of this class impeled by a
generous ambition and lofty ASPIRATIONS fol
usefulness and distinction, by yavaihng them
selves of every opportunity and by con
!, slant toll against every discouraging cir
cumstance make themselves really useful
and attain creditable standing in thc
profession. While others devoid of almos
Of every necessary acquisition are content tt
St grovel in ignorance of the Fundamental
- - principles of medical science, resorting tt
low tricks and every species of chieaner.
r. in order to maintain physical existence
nc How could it be otherwise than tba
g. such brethren should hang as millstcn
~ around the neck of the medical profession
70 and draw down upon it iufamy and tn
10 contempt of all honorable men.
ic Another feature of our position whicl
is deeply to be regretted is want of har
mony among the members of the profess
Oh ion. Indood it has long sinoo passed. int
Il provcrb-the Doctors disagree. Ye
ne while we confess the truth of the prover
n to cortain extent and acknowledge wit
al shame, that there is perhaps more Jealous
o. and dlscord among physicians than is usu
be ally among other classes, following simil'
H. pursuits; we do not acquiece in the CON
10, mon opinion that the cause of such disa
OF grecment is attributable to themselves
"a but very much at least to circumstances b
OF which they are surrounded. Nothing
D, more common, and at the same time fe'
eS things are more unjust than to denounce
he physician for faults and misfortuncs whic
to a great extent are beyond his contro
II For instance a man under the care of
We certain physician, finally RECEIVERS from
severe illness; the grateful patient, SCI
'e- ondcd by his friends, unite in trumpetin
nd the extraordinary skill of the physical
he and attribute his recovery to little le'
nd than miraculous power Another man
NJ attacked with violent disease, and en-
OF ploys another physician who exerts tt
he same assiduity and skill; but the patiel
er- sinks and dies; great dissatisfaction pr
rty walls, the friends do not hesitate to d
nt- nounce the medical attendant, and call Il
Did patients death little less than murder
he the first degree. Neither of these phys
n.y. clans are treated justly. One is as und
he serving of his laurels, as the other of h
The curses. Yet the former triumphs and pc
or haps exults over the latter.
for Is it astonishing that there should
heart.burnings between these equally ski
m. full men. Is it unnatural that the fires
jealousy should burn in the hearts of the
physicians, whose interests so severe
;no clash, particularly if kindled and furnis
.at ed with fuel by caprioious and impa
ors w ioned community whose slanderous tongu
are full of venomed spite against the hu
,ho bic yet faithful physician.
ion Not unfrequently these heroes of Nj
am Gossip are members of the Christi
IL ohnrnh nnd 10 thnu nncs from, hnnSn