Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-09-17

Memphis surgeons have done the work,
and newsmongers have made the welkin
ring. Science and skill are both re-
quired at the hands Of those who have
performed this operation successfully.
Both the principal and assistant surgeon
in the case before US deserve all that is
said in their praise. They have estab.
lished regulations which hardly required
any vainglorious announcement of
achievements in professional art which
other Memphis surgeons have often &C.
complished.
Robards, now no more, Brown, Fenner,
Avent, Ramsey, Keller, Taylor, and 9TH
ers, for aught We know, have performed
this selfsame operation. Avent, former
ly surgeon-general of Tennessee, has
often relieved sufferers like him who
owes so much to the skill of these gentle
men, We would derogate in nothing
from their claims to excellence in sur
gerry, but can hardly admit that in having
a stone removed from the bladder, new
era has dawned upon the history and
progress of surgery in this city.
We we're induced to advert to this
incident by the reflection that in doing
justice to the few there is no necessity
for wrong to the medical profession Of
Memphis. Moreover, it has been said
of this learned profession that its key
stone maxim of ethics rested upon self
adulation. No step is taken without it.
Even reporters for the press, in violation
Of rules established by the American
Medical Association, may hereafter be
called in with midwives, dance attend
auce upon manakins, watch processes of
lithotomy and Cesarean operations. To
the very extent that the medical profes.
sion has lost caste, to this extent have
its members deemed self-adulation and
detraction from the just claims of others
their pillar of cloud by day and of fire by
night, beneath which they gather Ambro-
sal mama. Penniless friends, seedy
reporters, gossiping old women, consti :
tute the stock in trade Of very many gen.
tlemen of tho profession, whose genius
for books and solid professional attain
ments is little as their devotion TO goose
gabble upon the streets is tireless. The
| idlest of all idlers are the incapable doc
tors Having many hours Of inaction,
endless leisure is devoted to endless
criticisms upon the conduct of rivals in
| the'healing art. If there be those who
condemn US in giving utterance to these
reflections upon the habits Of this learned
profession, let them saunter for an hour
or two along the Doctors Row" Doc
tors Commons they will find the
greater number of the sons Of Galen
bookess. Politics concern them more
than physic. Progress in science and
professional discoveries are rarely dis
cussed. In fact it has been found, for
this reason, impossible to maintain a
medical association for local professional
advancement.
These criticisms upon doctors, as
q class, have no reference to
gentlemen above named. They stand
deservedly high in public estimation. 1t
only happened that the incident to which
we adverted and the manner of its publi'
cation, gave an opportunity of suggesting
reforms, which every educated gentle
man, who would dignity his art must
surely approve, and which are worthy
the attention of the legal and clerical
professions as we'll GALEN.