St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-03-19

parison of the relative merits of each, and
thus leading to truer appreciation Of the
proper Office of the physician. If truth and
the greatest usefulness is what physicians are
seeking as much as gold and selfish honors,
who among them will object to such compare
son, when they reflect that public sentiment
in this country is the great tribunal before
which all must ultimately stand or fall.
Much of the prevailing ignorance and en-
piricism is owing to the erroneous theories
and practices of former physicians, in conse-
quence of which the present physicians suffer
in public estimate, as a genus-the parents
having eaten "sour grapes the children
teeth are "set on edge, but great obsta-
Gle in the way of medical reform, is, that
people generally do not discriminate as they
might or ought in the choice Of Physicians
This is a great evil and calls for remedy
How often and how lamentably true it is, that
almost any and everything else decides the
choice, except ability and integrity in the
highest sense, as to the man and the physician.
Life health and happiness are often and un-
necessarily placed in the hands of those of
whose fitness the patient and friends know
little or nothing! This course endangers the
patient and often dishcartens, and even drives
modest and unobtrusive worth to other call
ings, in which the difference between intelli-
is more apparent, and thus community is de-
prived of the labors of those who would have
proved ornaments to the profession and bless
ings to the world. 1t is to the live and earn
est men and women of this age that the medi-
Cal as well as ali other Reformers look for aid
Shall it be withheld?
| To illustrate, beg to add few things con
nected with my brief professional career
For seven years I have been a practicine
physician and can appreciate pretty fully
the trials and immunities of so responsible
calling began with this published sentiment
| that, "acting upon the broad principle that
| the recovery or improvement of my patients is
ever of more Importance than the advance
ment of any particular theory of medicine,
my practice, while based upon enlightened
principles, will in all cases be Eclectic" and
have never had occasion to regret the course
although it has subjected me to occasional pc
cuniary disadvantage and no inconsiderablt
obloquy, because have not followed the rou
tine or leading strings of any one system e,
to the exclusion of all others.
Even while a student could not subscribe
to the extreme Allopathic doctrines of prac
tice and feel myself a man of principle ant
progress. Believing that many things connect
ed with it are destructive to health of bod,
and mind, the golden rule" compelled m,
to repudiate the same.
During the same period, it was also m.
good fortune to become familiar with Homno
pathic and Hydropathic practice, and it being
my motto to "seize the truth where er til
found" thus early my views were enlarged
and opinions liberalized.
Homeopathy, found-for all were invest
gated theoretically and practically-thougl
offshoot, yet of itself, less actively destruct
i've than its parent Allopathy. 1t incorpo
rates some excellent features; but as an exclu
sive system, is too imaginary and infnitesimally
drawn out, to be in accordance with cxpe
rience and common sense. However, l triet
to garner the wheat from each of all sys
TENS.
Observation-Disclosures name, from the
| exclusiveness which it implies-was found tc
include many excellencies, though yet in com
parative infancy as a system. AS an exclu
sive theory, l consider it far from perfect, bu
it has already "sweat," packed" AM
"bathed away many of the errors of othe
systems. TO hydropathy, then, hearty wei
come as a co-worker in scientific hands in th
work of medical reform.
The advent of educated female physician
in this country marks an era in the histor
and progress of medicine. For good reason
this profession should be shared by both sexes
As result, the wants and mutual relation
of each will be better understood.
Many physicians in their devotion to thee
ry appear to lose sight of the fact that it il
nature which really effects the cure of disease
though she can often be aided or anticipated
by the true student of her works, as every
physician must be to correctly interpret hel
| laws.
As a genuine seeker after truth, after al
| these and many other Investigations and con
clusions,-and impartial as possible, in The
present state of medicine--no course remained
for me but that of an Independent Eclectic in
views and practice, choosing from each and al
| systems whatever appeared to be true or wor.
| thy of place, believing it not only my priv
lege but my duty to make use of the means
likely to benefit my patients, without regard
to precedent or paternity of opinion.
1t is true, some selfish pretenders, conserva-
tives, or rather hunkers," who are so bound
down by precedent, embalmcd in the musty
lore and cobwebs of antiquity, or by more
modern exclusiveism, have been ready 10 herald
me as an ultraist, a nondescript and even 6
nonentity in medical practice. But the years
that have passed have been years of increas
ing professional success, and in reviewing thu
same there is little to regret. To my view i,
has ever been higher calling to prevent thar
to cure disease.
Half a century ago, and even later, extrem
allopathic views and practice prevailed almos
universally. Already, what surprising
; change! Now there are several other theore
successfully disputing its vantage ground, il
honors and emoluments; and though thes
arc often conflicting and contradictory, the
afford unmistakable evidence of increases
attention to the subject, and of progress in tn