The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-10-03

his career Mt the close OF the middle
ages, u period of time extending
| from the eighth to the fifteenth century
| of the Christian era. do not speak of
him because he was great man, but
because he WAS a peculiar man, and u
kind or style of man met with in all
ages, and kind of man also that we
meet with not very unfrequently with
i'll our own circle OF acquaintance, and
| perhaps occasionally one may be found
even among ourselves. he was bold,
dashiDg practitioner, without much
skill or prudence, who boosted largely
of his marvellous cures, and made a
short lived reputation by the bold use
of active remedies, such AS mercury,
Hntimony and opium. He made great
display of cases cured, and perhaps i'll
sons instances OF cases that recovered
| in spite OF his cures, but those that did
not reCOVer-either from the nature or
the disease or from the injurious action
of his remedies-he kept in the back
ground.
He showed the profession, however.
that active remedies, boldly admins
tered, were in many cases of great
value. ..t
Paracelsns first cured syphilis by the
use OF mercury, which disease the disci-
pies of Galen had not been able to cure
with their remedies. He published
several works on medicine, and at one
time WAS professor in the medical
| school at Basil, in Switzerland.
He Travelled much in search OF medical
knowledge, and obtained his informu-
ton from physicians, chemists, bar
bers, old women aud conjurers. He
professed, among other things, to have
found the Philosophers Stone, and to
have invented an Elixir that would
preserve life to the age of Methusalah.
He professed, also, that there was Il
planetary arrangement with the differ
| other things which showed, that with
all his medical knowledge and reputa-
ton, he was by nature a vain boaster
and quack. Now, that kind OF boast
ing and Dragging, in the practice of
medicine, WAS much more e&cusable in
the days OF Paracelsus than at the
present time; for we possess II vast
amount OF medical knowledge that was
not dreamed OF in the age in which he
| lived. Now, wish to say few words,
which l may as well say while speHk-
| ing of Paracelsus, AS in any other
place. 1t has been slated that ply
sicians of this Society are given to sX-
| magnify their cases and their cures;
that they profess TO have done many
things which they have not done, and
that they consult and attend cases with
lquacks, and treat them professionally
with the same consideration AS they
| profession. hear reports nnd COM
] plants of this kind, and am asked
/ WHAT'S to be done with members of
| this Society, who are guilty OF such un-
digniHed and nnprofesslonal conduct.
1t has been suggested that the Society
take action upon such cases. The So
ciety, of course, cannot act without
| specific charges are presented in the
| regular form for action. 1 suggest
that it is better to get along, II possi-
| bic, without having such cases come
before the Society for investigation.
The members complained of will in
most cases bring in the plea OF perse-
cution, and every man will have his
friends and sympathizers. All such
cuses will be disagreeable and trouble
some, and if possible, should be recti-
fed in some way, without coming be-
fore the Society. Now, L do not wish
any member to ask me if L mean him,
for L shall not answer any questions of
that kind, and do not wish 10 see any
of the members, by their inquisitive-
ness or complaints, place themselves
| in position that would put their
friends in mind OF the old adage, that
'.None can feel the pinchIng shoe.
Save those who wear IT,"
Ifany member is wearing II pinching
shoe, my advice to him is, say nothing
about it, but bear it patiently, till an OPP
portunity offers to make some change
that will relieve the pain. Nothing will
be gained by an exhibition nofill-feellng,
or an effort at self-defence. L trust that
these few hints, if they apply TO any
| member of this society, which l hope
they do not, will be II warning for them
to keep, as near AS possible, within the
| limits of the requirements Of the con-
stitution and code of ethics. suggest
| further, that those who live in glass
houses should be very careful not to
throw stones, for there are but few
| houses built in these days that have
not some glass windows in them. These
professional Irregularities cannot be
| controlled except by time, prudent
management and careful education.
The mariner cannot quelI the storm,
but he may guide the vessel into port,
and anchor her safely. The physician
may not be able to control a fever, but
by patience and judicious management
he may conduct IL TO u harmless issue,
| The Medical Society of West Virginia
may not be able TO control all the heav-
| ings, expansions and Irregularities OF
the profession OF this new State. It may
not control the tendency to boast ter
rIble cases of disease, mavelous cures,
and wonderful operations. 1t may not
at once control the habit OF practicing
| with quacks, or OF using their remedies.
Many limitations of Paracelsus may
be found roaming over our State, dis
| tributing their life saving elixirs, their
Home and Stomach bitters, their hair
restoratives, and cures for all manner
of diseases /; or, in other words, to
| make OF the credulous and weak mind
ed the Philosophers Stone, which shall
convert, at fabulous prices, all their
nostrums and base material into gold.
In her mountains and valleys there is
abundant room for expansion, and for
the development of all kinds of pro-
fessioual pretenders and ndirregnlarprac-
titioners. The doctors and the people
have been brought up and educRtsd in
the midst of that kind OF professional
lirregularIty, and perhaps have never
stopped 10 think that il was not all
right. s "a iEl- I'll -
| 1t will require time and more no.
curate knowledge before all will settle
down and act strictly in accordance
with the regulations Of this Society,
which, when fully established, the
Constitution and Code of Ethics pub
llished, and in the hands of the mem
bers, will be able, in a short time, to SO
regulate all these matters, that no haI m
will result from them to the profession,
or to those who seek It's aid.
The standing OF our profession must
depend, substantially, upon the char
acIer of the men who represent it. The
terms character and reputation are used
often as Synonymous terms, but they
are widely different in their meaning !:
a mans character is u part of himself.
it is something good or bad that he has
acquired by his own acts and course in
\ life; his reputation is what others may
| choose to give him. n fr.. .rlHt
| we should seek To establish a high
professional character, by an honorab bic
| and hight minded course in business;
by devoting all our talent, all our en-
ergy, and all, our skill 10 the welfare of
| those under onr professional care The