Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-02-23

I
Not w~ithstsnding this may be true, the posi-
ton laid down in the proposition just enun
eiated, remains mistaken. That our noble
science is susceptible of attaining to such
a high standard-that its v~otaries, who are
true to their great work, and to the inspirs-
tons of their high and holy mission, can
achieve triumphs for truth and humanity
that will evoke from a suffering race its
~profoundest gratitude and heartfelt bene-
diction, none need question nor deny. Is it
unreasonable to ask as much, nay, more, at
the hands OF its members of the presenl day,
in the line of achievement, than has been
accomplished in the ipast by many of the
older lights of the profession? What the
latter have done for medicine, conclusively
proves that it has in store the same rich
rewards for all who select the true path that
leads to the Temple of its Fame-who enter
the right gate, and ascend the steps that
point to the summit of its towering obelisk.
l think it may be truly said of most any
phase of charlatanism that it prefers a
hiding place to open day, whenever there
is danger of being placed in juxtaposition
with genuine science. The lower the stan
dard of a physicians attainments, the
nearer Of course he approzintstes the plane
occupied by the quaek. The dangers to
which he is exposed are manifold. A
mistake on his part, is always magnifed
and seldom forgiven. His professions are
such-the relation he bears to scientific
medicine is..such, that much is expected of
him.
On the other hand, it is not go with the
quack. Errors and mistakes are the nor
NAL fruits of his labor. No one expects to
see the wise precepts Of the Savior and
Paul exemplifed in the daily walk and
practical conduct Of one, who processes
81 . l. o-nal r aT.o Oh
latanism is to medicine, what MOrmonism
is to religion. Unfortunately, for the sake
IF truth, this view of the subject is not
adopted by some, from whom we should
expect a hearty concurrence. For instance,
those members OF the clerical profession,
who role Charlatanisfn "as a sweet morsel
under their tongues" would DOUBT the wis
dom or propriety of physicians prescribing
Polygamy for a moral delinquency in the
Church. No member Of the regular pro-
fessiou Of medicine could, as he disbe-
lieved the dogma, "similia similibus
cursntur" the only principle upon
which vice could neutralize sin.
ELEMENTARY SCIENCE INDISPENSABLE.
In order, therefore, to avoid the shoals
and quicksan6s incident TO, and character
istic of the charlatsn's c~ourse-that We may
escape the dangers to which superficial
| soundings, while Upon our medical voyage,
must inevitably expose us, a thorough mas
terry Of our profession BECOMES a primary
duty and al indispensable necessity. In
those earlier periods Of medical history, be-
fore the immortal discoveries OF Harvey,
Malpighi, Haller, Hunter, Bichat, Louis,
Bell, and a host Of other worthless, had been
announced, imperfecti9sas and absurd con-
| illusions respecting anatomy, physiology
and pathology, were comparatively justifi-
able. But the physician of the present
time, who is found without oil in his lamp,
may Justly be regarded as recreant to the
grave responsibilities and solemn obliga-
tons Of his calling. Let the charlatan
I" choose darkness rather than light because
his deeds are evil" but let net the physician
choose darkness rather than light because
he is indolent. No young man need expect
10 attain 10 deserved eminehce in the medi-
cal profession, without first possessing an
accurate knowledge of the principles that
1 lie at the bottom Of all diseased phenomena.
The successful pursuit of this knowledge
implies unwearied vigilance ard an
firing application on the part of
the pursuer. In laying his foun-
dstion, he must penetrate all superficial
and loose strata until he strikes the solid
granite. Thus firmly rooted and grounded
in q knowledge of the principles of both
health and disease, az they are uhfolded in
the elementary departments Of medicine,
he student has q right to expect that his
subsequent efforts in practice viii be
crowned with a high degree of success. He
must linger long and patiently toll in this
field of elementary effort. The following
paragraph from the Memoir of Sir Ashley
Cooper touches this point, thus:
at may be asked, and the inquiry is not
Il wv.Fh.v,N "
it happened that Sir Ashley Cooper, begin
ming life as he did not only without patron
age but under circumstance in some re-
spects calculated greatly To prejudice his
advancement, should SO early reach the
highest emOluments and honars of the pro-
lessioR. Happily the answer is easy. If he
obtained from the medical profession more
of honor and emolument than any other
man has ever done, il Vas because he de-
voted to that profession an amount Of bodily
and mental energy, rarely, if ever eduaIled
by any other. In the first place, he spent
ten years in most lab0rious a~ppfica-
ton, before he seriously attempted to acquire
private practice; and during more than
half of this period he was employed in
teaching and in practice, as well as in learn
ing, SO as TO give much the greater force and
effect TO his inquiries. In addition to this,
80 NNos - Jul VI AElhllN III
study. Every case presented to him was
not merely a disease or injury to be treated,
but a subject for investigation. All these
inquiries were directed to 3 practical object.
he had Little taste or respect for theoretical
speculations, but an Unsuitable appetite for
useful facts, and a remarkable aptitude to
apply such factS to q practical purpose"
The anatomy, physiology and chemistry
ct the human body, claim first, the time
and attention Of the student of medicine.
The Importance of a thorough exploration
and clear comprehension Of these funda-
mental branches, cannot be exaggerated.
They are preliminary steps that lead US up
10 the contemplation of that massive theme
pathology. They collectively constitute
the solid substratum upon which rests that
mighty fabric, whose colossal proportions
require pillars of support thus enduring.
The student who passes hastily over these
branches of science, will soon find himself
port 70 the "tnyaIid Corp" Of the profession
for admission, that he may obtain light
work, and not be exposed to the dangers of
the field.
Onithe other hand, if he will but patiently
hnger las did Ashley Cooper in these pri-
mary fields of research and gather from
them the treasures they contain, he will be
enabled in due time to take an envisbIe
position in his profession, to confer honor
upon himself and blessings upon his race.
The success or failure of the student of med
icine, finds an apt illustration in the scrip
tural idea, chat whatsoever a man soYeth
that shall he also reap
The earnest position | have taken in be-
half of elementary science as an essential
preliminary to practical medicine, is net
without support from the highest autheri-
ties. In the admirable work of Todd &
Bowman, the subject is alluded to thus:
The study of Anatomy must always ac-
company that of Physiology, on the prinoi-
pie that we must understand the censtruc-
tion of a machine before we can comprehend
the way in which it works. The history of
physiology shows that it made no advance
until the progress of anatomical knowledge
had unfolded the structure of the body.
There Is so much of obvious mechanical
design IN the intimate structure of the
various textures and organs, that the dis
,overY OF that structure opens the most
ilrect road to the determination of their
Uses. A correct physiology must ever be
'he foundation of rational medicine. He
who is ignorant of the proper construction
II a watch, and of the nature of the ma
erials OF which it is made, could not find
nut IN what part its actions were faulty, and
would therefore be very unfit to be en-
rusted with repairing it. In medicine, the
step towards the cure of disease is to
ind out what the disease is aud where it is
dlagnoslsl. Without a knowledge of the
thicss which various ports fulfill in the
nimal economy, our search to determine
THAT organ or function is deranged must be
most vagina and inda6n;ta DoJ6oLou, =, A..