Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-07-28
About "Yerb-Docters."

MESSkS EDITORS:
An idea has gained favor
with many Of our good people thai
Editors, in their highest sphere, are
| merely medium through which aHy
and every scribbler may communicate
his views of passing events to the
pOpulace at large. A moments refiec.
ton shows that the idea is unjust; but
nevertheless, it exists. The men OF
proverbs tell us, that whatever cannot
| be cured must be endured. Am | pre-
suming too far then, Mr.. Editor, when
/ take it for granted that you are will
ing to bear your share of the burden
and ask the privilege of taking a little
to those who may be disposed to read
! through the columns of your paper
! Would you relish an item or two of a
local character, pertaining to q dis
trict of S. w. Va.
A few years since, an individual,
whom we will, for the sake of cOnve-
nience, call DIR. NJ, made his appear
aace in said locality. boasting of medi-
| cal skill hitherto unknown. He wore
| no useless title of NJ. ID. His was
knowledge of a plain simple, practical
kind, precisely suited to the wants of
the suffering and dying. His medi-
cines were compounded of roots and
herbs. He prOfessed to have obtained
his superior knowledge from the Indi-
ans. And inasmuch as our people are
generally reasonably acquainted with
the state of science and art among
these half-civilized inhabitants of the
west. ii is strange that they did not at
at once set true estimate on the won
u ftaf nf hr Nnf
ly did he propose to enter the haunts
of sickness and rob disease of her vic
Tins, but could even, by the beating
of the pulse, tell whether, at any time
of former life, an individual had suf-
fered any injury, and, if so, indicate
with precision the part of the body
where the pain was located or the scar
might be found. It is to be noted
here, however, that the doctor was oc-
casiOnally brought to trial Oh this
point, and, as natural consequence,
suffered defeat as often as won success.
But what of the doctors success?
hear you ask. 1t was surprising. In
ashOrt time many sat, credulous listen
ers, at his feet, enjoying a delightful
revery, furnished them Dy the doctors
Munchausen stories. Now and then
an individual got well, or aOGs cured.
of some season complaint, which fact
demonstrated the supernatural skill
of the physician. Very soon, some
half dozen gentlemen desiriOus of be-
coming his peers in the healing art, in
consideration of the modest little sum
of few hundred dollars, received the
DOCTORS promise to invest them with
the great secret He did not tax his
learners with volumes and shelves
of volumes" but confined his instruc-
tiOns TO those of a verbal kind. In a
few weeks, his neophytes, armed with
saddle bags, well filled with "plant
and root" pills, sailed forth for the
healing of the people. You will not
be surprised, however, to hear that
their patients frequently died under
peculiar circumstances. A teacdp-full
of pills cannot be endured hy many
constitutions when enervated 10y dis
ease, nor will such a remedy prove
successful in every case of Sickness
The original DIR. NJ, has, not very
long since, changed his quarters. His
having but little practice,
now turn their attention mainly to
other pursuits. The community
which has witnessed their dOings is,
it is TO be hoped, wiser than it was be-
fore it made the acquaintance of the
doctor. Or, should rather say, that
portion of the community which lent
a credulous ear to his humbuggery.
The above is only few hints taken
from the current statements of persons
considered reliable. Madam rumOr
could tell much more of a graver and
more serious character. But this, for
the present, is enough. 1t serves to
illustrate sad want heretofore un-
needed 10y many of our law-makers.-|
Before any one can enter upon the
practice of the law, he is required to
prosecute a certain course of study
and stand an approved examination
thereupon. a similar requirement
prevails i'm most other Professions
And why is any upstart, who chooses
to do SO, permitted to experiment, or
rather trifie, with the lives of men and
women with impunity, when perhaps
he has never read a volume OH the
treatment of disease in his life, and
whose instructor i'm the art, pretended
to no more knowledge on the subject
than a blackfOOt Indian. Is not the
punishment deserved by the ordinary
swindler far too light for the notorious
medical impOstOr.
l am sorry to find that the doctors
i'm question have occupied all the space
it would be charitable or just to ask in
your columns at one time. Next week
/ may say something about one of our
excellent little tOwnsOf recent growth,
which is looking forward to the time
when It ,cM be q considerable place.
1t is neat little village and may be
entitled to two chapters-One to tell
what is favorable, the other to criti-
cize enough to insure due regard to
truth. w.