The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-10-11
InTn voLUME--NUMBER ss2.
oUAcK DOCTORS.

The proprietor of the "Brltlsh ana toreign An-
frmary for the Cure of the Eye and the Ear," was
lately arrested in London on charge OF conspiracy
to defraud persons under pretence of curing their
infrn,itics A witness who was formerly en-
ploved by the quack, testified that he assisted to
compound the medicines, which were made OF yat-
ueless materials colored with cochinea and called
by different names. Patients were charged from
one shilling to four pounds, accordingly as they
could be imposed on. The profit OF a years bust
ness was near $4,000 The quack was held Tor
examination. 49,,
New York is full of these impostors who are re-
alizng fortunes out of their credulous victims We
have recently heard of one who processes to cure
malignant diseases which battle the skill of scien-
tific doctors, by :the imposition of hands. And
singular to relate the witness who testified to his
miraculous powers is man with his eyes open, and
his senses sound on every other subject.
The success of quackery is often promoted by
calling slight forms of illness by the of some
terrible disease and when the illness passes off, as
it will nine times out of ten if left alone, famous
cure has been wrought, and the Ignorant victim
gives certificate to his benefactor, along with i've
times the money that an educated physician would
have charged for the same attention. In this way
cures of consumption wrought out OF cough
arising from "a tickling in the throat A little
redness of the skin gives an excuse to the pompous
"doctor" for wise shake of the head and the omi-
nous utterance Of the words, scarlet Iever, madam
you must take great care of your child! This
is history of the vast ma jority OF the wonderful
cures effected by quack doctors They are gene
rally sagacous enough to avoid giving strong rem
edies where there is no real disease; but then they
charge the same price for cochineal water as for
the most precious fluids that can be compounded
by human skill.
Another trick of the trade is to bruit abroad
those cases only which turn out fortunately, while
all others are kept in the dark. Nobody ever yet
heard of quack doctor losing patient by death;
or if so, he had been killed by the regular phys-
clans before getting into his hands! 1t is q little
singular that with all the prodgous extent OF
quack practice in New York, one never hears OF an
unsuccessful case. The truth of the matter we
believe to be simply this, that they either abandon
patient as soon as his condition becomes serious,
or in case of death he is quietly consigned to the
care of our common mother with the least possible
amount of ceremony.
If it were possible to ascertain with any accura-
cy the results of quaclery in principal cities,
we would sec frightful pyramid of human suffer
ing, misery and imposture. Sufficient ddto exist
to justify the belief that the malpractice of preten
ded doctors is of itself most fruitful cause OF dis
case and death, in all large communities. A COM
parson of the fatality Of our dspensary cases, which
arc under the treatment of educated physicians,
and which are among the least favorable class of
patients it relates to circumstances and diet with
that of the nostrum-dealing, quackemployng class,
abundantly proves this fact
There is no subject closely connected with the
comfort and economy of daily life, that SO much
needs to be illuminated to the popular mind does
that of 'doctoring." We do not forget that the
regular practice of medicine has had its abuses its
unconsciencious and inefficient ministers, and that
this constitutes the best excuse that be alleged
for the existence ofquackery; but the fact remains
without need of demonstration, that it is not igno-
rance but knowledge, not stupidity but intelligence,
not accident but Skill that look into the
and nature of disease, and discover the best modes
of their cure.-New York Century.