Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-11-03

to the public health MEDICUS
New Hanover Co.,, Oct. 1858.
A BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS FOR
THE STATE.
At the late meeting of the Medical Society of
North Carolina the subject of Medical Board was
thoroughly discussed, and Committee appointed
TO petition the Legislature in reference to it.
1t must be source of infinite delight to every
Physician who properly appreciates his profession,
to know that decided move has been made in this
natter and that there is prospect for the pas
sage of such a measure will protect the people
from imposition by excluding the ignorant and un.
worthy from our ranks. AS for ourselves, we re-
oice in this action regarding it as the most positive
and practical proof of the efficiency Of our State
Organization, and hailing it as the harbinger OF
prouder day for Medicine in North Carolina. If
Nothing more is accomplished at this time, it will at
least to show by what spirit the members Of
our society actuated it will demonstrate both
to the Physicians and the People, that appreciate
the necessity for reform. and are zealousy labor
ing to secure that most desirable object; it will
teach those of our Colleges which have SO long and
persistently
"Bent the plant hinges of tbs knee,
That thrift may follow fawning,"
that we cannot countenance those disgraceful mock
cries wherein all the paraphernalia Of learning is
invoked to invest with dignity and Importance the
annual distribution of Diplomas which are no longer
badges Of honor proof of proficiency, but un-
meaning records upon which venality has written
the story of its own disgrace; and it will serve as
line of demarkation between the real friends of
medicine and those who though enlisted under
her most honorable banner, have prostituted the
Profession, they would sell their souls, for the
qualification of personal ambition, the accumulation
of wealth, the advancement of some other selfish
and unworthy end.
1t has been affirmed that the most uncomproms-
ing enemies Of This measure of reform are to be
found in the ranks of the profession ITSELF and prin
cipaly among those of our brethren who have been
allured from the cIevating and ennobng pursuit of
their legitimate business to the exciting, but I'M
satisfactory of politics. This is certainly true
to some extent, but are happy to say that we
know Of several political doctors whose regard for
their original vocation has suffered abatement
whatever, and who, far from stultifying them
selves and dsgracing the honorable titles they bear,
by opposing this plan for the improvement Of the
profession, its most Jealous friends and warmest
advocates. Some Of these, fortunately, are men,
bers elect of the General Assembly, and upon their
zeal in cause, together with the influence which
they must exert as of education cultivation and
ability, upon the legislative body, chiefly rely
for the success of undertaking, and the passage
of such bill as the Committee will present during
the coming winter Ifhere be physician who is pre-
pared to dishonor himself by opposing in this effort
toadvance the most essential interests Of our calling,
we beg his atenton, whilst few words Of advice and
warming poured into his You men,
Der of an honorable profession. You bear title,
which, though assumed voluntarily. must remain
associated with your name until the sands of life
are exhausted. You cannot sever the ties which
bind you to the Electorate; for the world will re.
Cd ~ 80 ts representative of your class under
every variety of circumstances and as it is impossi
BILE to dissolve your connection with the profession,
whatever concerns its interests effects your likewise
whatever victories won for it, your triumphs
Also and whatever of dishonor attaches itself there
to is shared by you equally with its most worthy
and devoted disciple. 1t is duty then, imposed
alike by every consideration of seifnterest we'll
as by the higher incentives which more elevated
sentiments engender to vindcate its honor, to de.
fend its rights, and to assist in the advancement OF
its interest without regard to the personal sacrifices
which this championship demands Your brethren
expect this of you act of justice to them and
to yourself whilst the intelligent Of every calling,
addressing you "Doc:or'-recognizing your con-
necton with the most honorable of the learned pro-
fessionS and esteeming you representative OF your
vocation and exponent of its sentiments, only
amused disguised with your efforts to ignore your
professional obligations and to PROSTATE a vocation
which deserves your most grateful support that you
may build up your fortunes upon its humiliation
and ruin. In placing yourself thus in position of
antagonism to this movement, you are arrayihg all
the influence and position at your command against
that which large majority of the most respectable
physicians of the State recognize the most prac-
tcabe and efficient means for protecting the people
against imposition, and for elevating the medical
profession in Carolina. You are refusing to
operate in plan which seeks to advance the cause
of learning and humanity by raising the standard
of qualification among those to whom the honor of
medicine and the lives of the citizens of the state
confded. You are attempting to play the dem
agogue at the expense of the modification and
defeat of those honorable men who have inflated
this movement, and with whom every obligation of
honor, of sefrespect of patriotism and of humanity
should constrain you to act. You are striking
most ungrateful and cowardly blow at a vocation in
whose cause the earliest and nobest aspirations of
your heart enlisted, and ir the pursuit of
which you first gained admittance into the houses
and the hearts of the partial friends who have ad-
vanced you. You may elicit the paudits OF the gal.
lery-for men delight in the spectacle of divided
house. You may overwhelm with defeat-for
long passion and prejudice rule the hour, the
right cannot prevail. But of this you may be as
sured; your applause will be that which greets the
mountebank Your triumph will be that of the
parricide, and your reward the unmeasured scorn,
the inefable contempt, the utter loathing which
is the traitors doom.
The idea that the people are opposed to this
form, or that they consider us the advocates of
exclusive system, and the supporters of proud and
privileged class, is absurd in itself it is preju
dcia to the interests of the Profession The truth
is, q deep of the ineficiency of our medical
graduates pervades every class of the community.
The public has lost it's confidence in the Physicians
of the present day, and no longer accords to them
that respectful consideration without which they
for good 10 their respective spheres OF &C
ton. The people have been taught by sad expe.
rience that multtndes of Practitioners are annually
sent forth from the Colleges, unearned even in the
rudiments of the most ordinary education, ignorant
Of first principles of medical science, and without
single moral qualification for the responsible duties
of their position, to acquire knowledge at the
pense of human suffering, to grope onward towards
the light which experience Affords when every step
is upon agoinzed frame and breaking heart, and
to fill their pockets with gold either by pandering
to the appetites Of the vicious Aatterng the pre-
sumptuous pride Of the rich or Spreading their sails