Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-09-13
MEDICAL MEN.

mEDiCAL MEN.
Medical men are as plenty as blackberries in
autumn. Happily for themselves, unhapily for
society, they are universal necessaries-house-
hold gods that must needs be respected ora
Giles that will eysrmoro be listened to with fear
OF joy inspIrers Of hope prophets Of despair.
In their own sppere their influence is unbound
ed only believe in them, and how nightly
can they effect you-doubt them, and then,
when pain and sickness come, you will, in all
likelihood, submit 10 some palpablo quackery,
and atone for your pyrrhonism by oyermuch
credulity. So they have their revenge-you,
aller finding how expensive it is to be duped,
generally return TO them al last.
One Of the perplexing questions which is
being perpeiually mooted. and never answered,
is whether, after all, medical men are Of any
real use in the wordl No one. Of course,
denies that, in individual cases, their knowl-
edge is Of vast avail that many hundreds Of
lives are saved yearly by their care and couu-
sci but many sensible men, including physi-
clans Of high standing, have affirmed that, on
the whole, the struggle between health and
disease would not be more-might even Le less
-uutiult NiuOut iHtit intrIttIeucc. Ahc
question is one which will admit of discussion.
and Of arguments for and against, but no rood
will ever rise out OF the debate, nor can any
thing like certain conclusion be arrived at.
Add. indeed, the man who, in conversation, is
able 10 muster up long and formidable array
Of evidence against medical practitioners, would
be certain to send for one Of them in all haste
il he were seized with any dangerous or doubt
fol symptoms.
1t would be strange enough, II one could
ascertain the reasons for selection by which we
are aciuaied in our choice of a medical attend
ant. Perhaps in many cases, We should find
il impossible TO state them. One man has a
large practice, or always appears busy, another
keeps snowy eqoipage, third looks clever,
and so Of course, must be, fourth (hul this
is seldom prevailing molve) is an old friend
Of the family. filth has written book which
is said 10 be an authority, and sixth conduct
ed an almost hopeless case successfully. Reas-
ons for choice, such as these, are among the
most powerful ; aud when once medical man
is engaged, who is there that likes 10 change
himi
With ladies' the preference is ofimes a mere
matter OF fancy. One practitioner is short and
blunt n his manner, and Indifferent in his dress
and they cannot endure him; another is bland
and plausible, with lively manners and conver-
salonal powers. and he is pronounced "a love
of man." and in quiet cupboard in his study
this 'dear DIR. Brown" has stored up some
dozens Of carpet slippers, innumersble aricleN
done in crochet, ottoman covers, and sundry
other lady-likc ariicles-all perfectly useless,
as it seems. for though the late Mrs. Brown
has been dead nearly two years, tho doctor is
still inconsolable, or perhaps has not seen any
single young lady rich enough and pretty
enough to console him.
But il would. ia truth, be greatly advauta-
eeous il a little more judgment were exercised
in the choice Of a medical man. However ig-
norani we may be Of medicinal science. we
are still able, in measure, 10 form an estimate
Of the medical man. Why not test him as
you would any Of our ordinary acquaintances I!
Take the measure Of his mind on other matters,
and so Judge OF his professional ability. You
will sometimes be misled, indeed, but on the
whole il seems the only rational course. Al
any rate, If you perceive in him qualities that
are opposed 10 wisdOm-if he be pompous,
shallow and dictaiorial when talking on COM
mon topics, or would affect to know more than
he really does, then. depend on il, he is lille
better than chsrlaian in his own profession,
and the less faith you place ia him The better
There are other ways, by the help Of which a
Judgment may he formed but we need not stay
TO enumeraie ihem--,hey will occur so ohvi-
ously, now that the topic has been suggested.
All we contend for is, that in this, as in most
,hnRs, soand opinion may be arrived at. and
that ladies' can aud ought to exercise a pref
eIenee based upon clear and reasonable grounds.