The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-02-15
Physicians.

The ills which human nature Is heir TO
depress our spirits and alarm our fears.
When the body is racked with pain, and
we have no certain knowledge Of the
cause of it, we are habitually taught to
seek the advice of a physician. In order
that such advice should be of much i'm.
portance to us, several qualifications are
indispensable. He must be able, in some
good degree, to trace the disease to its
causes. The diagnosis, or discrimination
of diseases, is partly intuitive, and part
ly an acquired ability. Whoever possesses
the ability intuitively to perceive diagnos-
tic symptoms, may with hard study and
persistent industry, become skillful in this
most important branch of the profession.
But advice given without this ability is
always worthless, and may be tae cause
Of very great harm to the patient. There
are not great number Of general princi-
pies, now known to the profession, which
demand the students attention. There
are indeed many conditions and circumstan-
ces which serve to blend and modify those
underlying principles, and thus occasion
much perplexity to the practitioner. Toun-
fold this perplexity is the greatest effort Of
Skill and since the life Of the patient and
the character Of the physician may both
largely depend upon the result, it is pre-
sumption on the part of the patient to
employ a physician who is not skilful in
prognosis, and it is preposterous for any
man, who has any care for his reputation,
to offer to the public his professional SER
vices, who has not that skill. In the
present state of medical practice, one may
be excused if he is not perfect in his
knowledge of pharmacy, but in the branch
of Materia Medica, on that division of
medical science which treats Of the ac-
ton of medicines on the animal economy,
ignorance is by no means excusable. AL
though an action at law, will lie against
such act Of malpractice, yet it it is but
sad relief that is found in law when the
health or life of Il friend has been sacri-
feed to ignorance.
The standard of professional knowl-
edge in this profession is too low, and what
ever plea may be offered in its extenua-
tion, the existing fact is an offence to an
intelligent public.
1t isa source Of grateful recollection how
ever, that there are many persons, whose
names are worthy of honorable mention
who have not assumed too hastily the re-
sponsibilities of this profession. but have
given to it the toll and discipline which
are incident to liberal education, togeth-
er with the ardor and acumen, and study
which are requisite to the acquisition OF
high professional attainments.
Upon the efforts of such men alone the
dignity and utility Of the profession de-
pends. In their hands the profession has
attained its present magnificent proper.
tions, and all the essential branches of its
scientific labor have been developed. All
others are parasites who use their receipts
Just AS the illiterate sailor uses the elab-
crate tables Of the learned mathematician
in practical navigation.
1t is fortunate that large part Of ths
practice of the unlettered doctocs is essen
tially quackery. Their opiates are deal
to patients chiefly, who have no serious
ailments, or who know not the impor.
tauce of skllful treatment. The immens,
demand for patent medicines indicates
but too clearly the popular estimate o
medical science, and that estimate, sucl
as it is, il both the cause and the result o
that illiberol, avaricious practice which es
Inmates the value of all knowledge, b,
the aid it can render in turning cop
per.
CYruAN.