Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-10-05

amount of anxiety and responsibility, IN
favor of some homeopathic d oetor, who,
very probably, never studied disease al
all, But it cannot be helped. In all
times there have been pretenders, who
have persuaded certain part of the pub
lie that they have some peculiar knowl-
edge of royal road to cure, which those
of the regular craft have not. II is Ho-
mnopathy now; it was something else
formerly; and il Homeopathy were to be
extinguished, there would be something
else in its place. The medical profession
must be contented to let the thing take its
course; and they will best consult their
own dignity, and the good of the public,
by saying as little as possible about it.
The discussions as to the evils of HomGo-
pathy which have sometimes taken place
at public meetings, have quite an opposite
effect to thatiwhich they were intended 70
produce. They have led some to believe
that Homeopathists are rather persecu-
ted race, and have given to the system
which they pursue an Importance which
it wonld never have had otherwise just. as
any absurd or. fanatical sect in religion
would gain proselytes if it could only
make others believe that it was an object
of jealousy aud persecution. After ALL
the harm done to the regular profession is
not so great rs many suppose it TO bei a
very large proportion of the complaints
about which HomaOpathists are consulted
being really no complaints at all, for which
a respectable practitioner. would scarcely
think it right to prescribe. oarH
There was time when many of the
medical profession held the opinion that
not only Homeopathy, but all kinds OF
quackery ought to be put down by the
strong arm of the law. ] Imagine that
there are very few who hold that opinion
now. The fact is that thing is impossible
-as it is plain that the profession cannot
do all that is wanted of them, by curing
all kinds of disease, and making men i'm
mortal-such an interference with the lib
erty of individuals to consult whom they
please would be absurd aHd wrong. AS It
now is, the law forbids the employment in
any public institution of any one who is
not registered us being II qualified medical
practitioner, after q due examination by
some of the constituted medical authorities,
and it can 90 no further. The only eifec-
tual opposition which the medical profes.
sion can offer to Homeopathy is by indi-
vidually taking all pains to avoid, on their
part those errors of diagnosis by means oi
which, more than anything else, the pro-
fessors of Homeopathy thrive and flourish;
by continuing in all ways to act honorably
with the public; at the same time never be
induced, either by good nature or any mo
tives of self.interest, to appear TO give
their sanction to system which they
know to have no foundation in reality
To join with Hom@opathists in attendance
upon cases of either medical or surgical
disease, would be neither wise nor honest.
The object of medical consultation is
che seed of the patient; and We cannot
suppose that any suclI result can arise
from the interchange of opinions where the
views entertained. or professed to be enter
tanned, by one of the parties as to the ma
ture and treatment of disease, are wholly
nnintelligible to the other. am, dear
Sir, yours, &C., B. G. BRoDtE.