The weekly Ottumwa courier., 1858-02-04
MEDICAL.

Mr. EprroR Medicus In his last great effort, seems
TO have quite outdone HIMSELF and greatly overdone
the subject which he has attempted to handle so much
that II does not require showing up, at my hands,
perhaps, at all. wish to notice point, however,
which he pursues with great bitterness, and does not
to know when to stop, for he harps upon nearly
all through his lengthy article Is the charge OF
plagiarism--base plagiarism.
In the article quoted by Medicus, there was no at
tempt at originality. 1t simply summary Of es.
tabshed facts in regard to not new
to physicians, but new, perhaps TO the mass OF the
public. IT, in giving those facts, used In some in
stances frequently the precise words Of 9TH
without quotation Marks should not think that
did very unusual thing, committed very base Of
Tense. All prating about plagiarism In such small
is despicable fit employment only for small
minds Any one who will take the trouble to compare
several authors who give history, for instance, Of
vaccination, will nd great similarity and many
precisely the Does the editor Of this
deem It always necessary to put in quotations, every
that he may chance to from other sources
Of condensed facts2 OF course not, the thing
Is nonsensical and yet It happens that Medicus stg.
matzes such things as "base plagiarism--llterary
theft" Behold the mountain has labored and brought
forth nsouseY
At the time Of the publication Of the said article
vaccination, small pox not many miles from us In
two directions and have the satisfaction fbelieving
whatever may have been the motives for writing IT.
thatit Instrumental to extent in awakening
the interest in vaccination which then taken and
had vaccination been generally adopted at that
time, the recently past visitation OF small pox would
probably have been prevented and hearts would
have been spared sad bereavement
But suppose the article referred to- was strictly
In accordance with medical etiquette, and was open
also, to the charge Of plagiarism; Medicus had his
"say about it at the time, and received slight edi-
torial castgation Who committed the breach Of
etquette-medcal gentlemanys Who gave the
next provocation9 Nothing further heard for some
nine months until the small psx broke out few weeks
asdthe writer of this ased go to the meet
ing of the City Council, and when there, asked for
statements and opinions In regard to It, This crcu-
stance drew forth from Medicus alias "A citizen, the
notable scabby article the contemplate character
which is well known. Was IL honorable open or man.
lya Had he any p-ovocationg How much did 1t do
towards maintaining the ''honor and dignity Of his
professionf Is any wonder II It provoked dispo-
sition further draw out this redoubtable selfcons
champion Of the medical profession OF this vcin
ity, that IL might be seen what manner Of man he
was9 He has been drawn out, at length In bitterly
vituperous article, thoroughly exposing the caibre,
character, and motives Of the Appearances In
dicate that II Medicus instead OF another had been
called upon to treat the Of small pox and had
chance to make speech before the City Fathers
the public would not have been treated to his recent
| delectable articles.
The assertion that the article vaccination a
base plagiarism from beginning to end Is slight ex-
aggeraon As article In its arrangement at least
It was original have not seen 1t In Q good many
months, but venture to assert that paragraph ct
least was In Of the word original nthere
original idea about IT, that is enough to prove
the fasity the sweeping assertion Again. why base
Was any body wronged defrauded deceived TO their
injury thereby II must be weak cause which re-
quires to prop It up, such effort to put everything
in its worst possible light.
In regard to the charge Of misqnoting Prof. Meigs
deny It, I'll understand language correctly, he
has not been made to say what he did not mean The
remainder OF Medicus article is made up principally
that sort ofnsinuaons and slang which carries its
own condemnation upon its face.
Ihave only to say further that have not yet deter
mined to retire to the Jersey shores being at pres
en-: considerably interested in Medicus wing no
reason, whatever, to complain Of Western people, I
think however, that II Medcus could visit the Jersey
shores. and live awhile on the fine oysters which
abound there, IL would be OF great benefit to him.
There Is nothing like good living for taking the sour-
ness ont OF a mans temper aud making him feel at
peace with himself ana the f MANKIND You should
change your diet, Medcus, your symptoms are grow
ing daily. ID MORSE