The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-01-24
Correspondence Of the p. c. Adyer.ser9

HoSoLULU, Jan. IS, 1861.
Ma. EDITOR My attention has been called to an
article in the PolynesiaR, Of the 9th instant, over
the signature Of "a Galen.' animadverting upon the
sale, by the house with which l am connected, of
- Jayne's Medicines"
From its character. and the technical terms in
troduced, l judge it to be from the pen of some mem
Der of the Medical profession in this place.
| understand the writer TO take the ground that
the sale is a moral urOug, as it is made merely for
the profit, and justified on the ground that it can do
no harm, whereas be contends that although it may
be harmless in many cases. yet in others it may do
essential injury.
In regard to the first point, that is the motive, l
will remark that nearly every vocation of life is
chosen with reference TO the profit which it may
yield, in other words for a livelihood, but at the same
time, the choice is supposed to be Influenced by the
usefulness of the vocation.
The lawyer, the physician, the mechanic, the
farmer, and nearly all others, have reference to the
profit aud usefulness combined, in their preparation
for life's vocation.
Now in selling Jayne's medicine, ace beliere that
whilst il is of some pecuuiary value TO us, we also con-
fer public benefit. An important parto of preparation
for the medical profession, if | am correctly informed,
consists in n careful study Of the practice Of medi-
cine, which is made up of the record of large num-
bers of cases by eminent practitioners, detailing the
symptoms, the treatment, and the results. Large
and prolonged practice in different climes can hardly
fail to embrace every variety Of constitutional
temperament, and where the same symptoms of dis
case, subjected 20 the same treatment, have been
mitigated or removed entirely, and a healthy tone of
the system restored, in five eases out Of six, it seems
TO be very justly inferred that the happy result has
been n consequence Of the given treatment. This
recorded practice Is the principal guide of the young
practitioner. His subsequent practice developes so
many exceptions 10 his starting theories, that he has
less and less confidence in the certainty of the medi-
cal science and healing art rs his experience is en-
larged. In confirmation of this statement, of di-
minished confidence, at least in some cases, | may
quote Magenije, formerly the chief physician of the
Hotel Dieu, in Paris, one of the largest, if not the
largest Hospital in the world, also an eminent prac-
titioner Of Massachusetts, discOursiug before the
medical society Of tie State, to such hearers as Drs.
Warren and jackson, saitin substance that the science
was n very uncertain one that practice under
the system of Cullen and Thomas, which in many
respects was antipoda! to the modern practice, was
found by an examination of the record to have been
equally successful. | have in mind also, an indi-
vidual thoroughly educated for the medical profess
sion and practicing in conformity with the received
rules for n season, who subsequently adopted a sys-
ten so far ignoring the usual prescriptive remedies
as to have it called the no medicine SYSTEM and
practicing most successfully for q series of years up
pom his novel plan, in which he gave the prominent
place to good, careful nursing. In a season when a
type of fever prevailed with great fatality in the
place Of his residence, in twelve of the most aggra-
waited cases TO which he was called, he lost but one
patient. whilst in twelve cases of similar symptoms,
attended by the best a~llopathic physicians in the
county, six proved fatal. One of the first twelve
named, was the presiding officer Of a we'll known
literary institution, who is personally known 10 me.
Other cases within my personal knowledge | might
name, but the above are sufficient to illustrate my
point. that medical science is an uncertain science,
and from its nature not susceptible OF p0sitire dem
ORStratioR, and that much practice must be merely
experimental
| entertain a profound respect for the medical pro-
fession, and believe notwithstanding the uncertainty
which attends the science and the practice of the
healing art, upon its principles, still great good has
been done in the comfort and relief which it has
carried to ~unnumbered cases. l believe that as 4
science il is progressing, and will progress till it
approximates as nearly TO q certainty as its nature
will admit-that whilst a great number of cases has
been and will continue 20 be improperly treated, and
unavoidably so, from the difrent iiiosyncracies of
different individuals, still the measure of success far
exceeds the failures, the good greatly prelOminates
over the evil. So in the sale of DR.. Jayne's medi-
cines, I believe the benefit greatly to exceed the in
jury, as in the case Of practice where five cases out
of six are apparently benefited when treated in 4
particular manner SO when Jayne's medicines APP
pear TO bring relief to five cases out Of six when
taken according to his directions to relieve certain
symptoms, which he states as clearly as the books.
l cannot see why the remedy does not sustain the
same relation to the relief experienced in the one
case rs in the other.
DR.. Jayne himself is n graduate of the Medical
University Of Pennsylvania. an old practitioner Of
Of the a~llopathic school. He was led TO the
preparation Of his medicines by having used them
so successfully In his own practice for the various
malaiieS for which he has recommended their use,
and the testimony Is undisputable that they have
been most benefcially used by hundreds of thous-
ands of others. l can sell these medicines with
q good conscience, for my belief Of their useful
is founded upon the same kind Of evidence
as that of the medical practitioner, to wit -
apparent success in their use-is most sincere that
they are of essential benefit when taken 10 relieve
the symptoms described according to the directions
by DR.. Jayne. | cannot therefore feel
that We are obnoxious 10 the charge Of mOr0{ icrOng
in selling these medicines. But why does " Galen "
couiHe his structures TO our house Are not these,
Davis Pain Killer, - - TowuSend's Sarsa-
and other medicines known as - Patent
Medicines, sold by the druggists in town 10 any
may choose to buy They are sold rs a mer-
chant sells any article of merchandising as n
10 a patient upon examination of his
symptoms, but simply as merchandise, the article
delivered upon call and the payment Of the
price without question. If such ! the fact, I must
place renewed confidence in the efficacy Of these
medicines, as | cannot admit that the moral wrong
sought 10 be affixed 20 US by " Galen,' can attach I
10 our highly respectable druggists, All Of whom l
believe have been regularly educated for the medical
and are hence much better qualified to
uige Of the value Of the medicines, than We a. un-
professional men can claim to be. ]
We 10 not assert that all sell Of one or other OF
he - Patent Medicines but some DO sell them,
.ud We beRsrs on the same ground rs ourselves, to
Wit the profit to themselves, and the usefulness to
heir customers.
l have departed from the usual rule not to notice
N anonymous communication over my own sigma
ure except simply for the discussion Of principles
nyOived, but the article in question was aimed at
he house Of which | am n member, and adapted, |
not intended 10 injure il, as much so perhaps
: II II had hal the proper signature OF the writer, D
tho u unknown 10 me. Naturally feeling that ii .,
id Us injustice. / have endeavorei to explain our i
oslton ami my views, which, If not correct, are at }
honest. Respectfully yours, u