Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-02-02

| y tend to diminish the trust reposed in the ply
sician employed.
So also, no physician should take charge Of,
| or prescribe for patient who has recently been
under the care Of another member Of the facul-
ty In the same Illness except in cases Of sudden
emergency, (when his prescription will be only
for the urgent symptoms, or till the attending
| physician returns,) or in consultation, or when
the attending physician has relinquished the
care, or has been regularly notified that his ser
vices are no longer desired. The propriety Of
this rule is obvious If the physician be thus
ermittei, regardless Of his neighbor, 10 step in
and prescribe for his patient in his absence, and
this practice be followed up by the whole pro-
fession, the practice of medicine becomes worse
shan idle. The best prescription it is possible fer
tcience and skill TO make may be counteracied in
its good effects by the next, and the patieCt be-
comes a mere foot ball 70 be kicked hither and
yon as different practitioners hit him on one
side or the other. In the treatment Of disease
there must be regularity 1t is not a thing Of
chance depending upon the cast Of die, nor is
it a matter TO be trifed with. 1t rs grand and
serious. Nor does the want Of success in the
first stage Of treatment afford evidence Of lack
Of professional knowledge and skill, Many
diseases are naturally Protracted, and difficult
Of cure. If patients become dissatisfied when
consulting physician should not countenance OF
contribute to this dissatisfaction by unjust and
ilhberal ins;nuatons in relation to the practice
previously employed, or by himself consenting
10 prescribe for or take charge Of the patient
TIL all the conditions Of the rule above give
have been fully complied Sith.Physicians should I
deal frankly and in a manly way with each case /
and inform the patient that or rules Of ofetquette
are strict and imperative. Duty to ourselves, TO /
our profession and to cur patients f3rbids their I
violation With scarcely an exception, such .
frankncss will suffice to allay all disgust, and /
dignity and ennoble the profession in the est
nation Of patients and friends.
50 also in regard 10 compensation for prUfes-
sionol labor, inasmuch as a regular tariff Of
fees has been adopted by general consent Of the
pro tession, it should be scrupulously observed.
To DO otherwise is not only q violation Of our
honor as citizens, but derogatory t. our profes
sional dignity, as suhjectng Us to the whims or
cspriccs Of patients or friends. IL should be
understood that the minimum Of
Physicians fees is fixed by mutual agreement,
binding IN all cases and under all circumstances
upon all the ;raternities, while the maximum is
left to be determined by iniiyiiual cases.
In fine as the sum and essence Of all profes
sional courtesy, the physician should be gen
lemgn. In his intercourse with his patients,
with community, and with his professional breth-
ren, be should be gsHiIemdH. This c0mpre-
bends AID comprises the whole routine of eti-
Iue,te IN all its ramifcations. II the physician
cultivate the gentleman in his department, he
will act the gentleman in his professi0na. inter-
curse, and seldom if ever Will he be found VIC
atng any, the least, Of the rules laid down for
ais admonit0n and warning.