The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-02-26
For the Ottumwa Courier
MEDICAL.

Wh. NoRkIs: 4 nOuce Dy the appearing OF
an article in your paper Of last week that its
columns are open for the discussion of medi.
cal subjects, and propose to continue the
work of enlightening the psblic by Offering
this article, No. 2, on Quaekery.
My respect for your liberality will not al.
low me to trespass on your columns 90 as to
give anything like complete view of thi.
protean monster, but for the present will con-
fine myself to one or two aspects, leaving 9TH
ers, no less interesting, for further article.
First | will briefly allude to the practice Of
some Surgeons, or would-be- Surgeons, in ad-
hitting the multitude to witness the display of
their skill on some unfortunate victim. In
many cases this is not bare permission, but
considerable pains have been taken to have a
number present. who, ii is well understood,
will 60 away and publish the operation as one
involving the highest skill and eminentIy sue
cessful, indeed the complete success Of which
was next to miraculous all to the praise of the
surgeon. Sad indeed is it when exigencies of
the case demand immediate interference, and
no time is allowed for the marshaing of the
hosts to witness the sanguinary conflict
This is quackery, and merits the indignant re-
buke of every lover of his profession:
Another feature no less reprehensible is that
of resorting to advertisements to bring him
self prominently before the public-handbills
posted up he,e and there, invoking attention
to the wonderful success he has had in the
treatment of certain diseases, assuring the
public, chat under him
-"The blind shall see, the lame his crutch forego
And leap exultingy, like the bounding roe"
Or it may be in order to give certificate of his
extraordinary capacity, he writes an article
for public newspaper, not failing to give his
name in full-indeed this is the most important
part of the article, without it no matter If it
drop siilI-born from the press It lis 1, therefore
give heed. This is the logic of the article
whatever its heading. It is made the motive
power to drag his name conspicuously before
the public and introduce him to their patro-
mage This, SIR, is quackery half disguised,
no matter by whom it is per2eti ated. He may
be of the ''straightest sect" and fresh from
the altar Of Esculapus, still it is quac kerry and
is palpable violation Of the code Of ethic 5
adopted by the American Medical Association
to which every one who desires to maintain
reputable standing among his brethren is ex-
pected to subscribe, (Sse Code OF Ethics,
Art. Sec. 3D. This code Of ethics is the ply
sicians Magma Charta, the observance Of which
with fair qualifications secure. him standing as
physician and man, while the deliberate dis
regard Of it, with all his medical learning
brands him with the selfshness Of quack and
the dishonor Of man.
Surely the poet would now. say,
"A MODEST man 3 the nobiest work Of God"
conclude this article by observing that the
resort to such expedients is sure indication of
incompetency. Scarcely can community be
found where the truth Of this observation has
not been verified again and again. There may
be exceptions, but they are as green spots in a
desert. The true physician prefers to rest his
case upon his own merits and the intelligent
disc pination Of the public.
~ MEDICUS.