The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-11-22
Or. Longdon
Professional Liberality,

Before we can have true progress In medi-
cal science the profession must be enamel
pated from the bigotry that for ages has
enslaved II. Physicians must assert their
independence, throw away their prejudice,
and honestly accept every new truth
evolved In the science.of medicine, no mat
ter by whom IL is first enunclated The
must exercise their own judgments and not
wholly depend on the brains o. few emf
nent men who. having nothing else 10 do,
have added volume or two 10 medical
literature. Their minds must not be tram
meled by the arbitrary restrictions OF party
organ cations The members OF medical
societies do themselves but little credit,
while they greatly hinder the advancement
OF medical science, by arrogatiDg TO them
selves the right to exclude all knowledge
that does nor chance TO flow through their
secret channels. In this, as well as br Lnding
every one d charlatan who does not endorse
their ethics, they only show their own
weakness and folly. such eHclusiyeness
might answer we've medicine an exact
science but so long as many OF its princ-
pIes are so vague and unsettled, so long as
many OF the great leaders In the pyofes sion
hold and teach entirely opposite views on
the primary effects OF even opium, II seems
to us 10 be neither wise Bor modest. When
professors of the healing art can hoard
knowledge, as the miser gold and subject 1t
10 the same sure tests, II will be in
much better taste to become so wholly
exclusive. When they can agree in dag
noss and treatment II Will be quite time
enough to wrap themselves in seli-adoring
pride. Medical Associations with Ioeral oy.
laws might accomplish much good, but
those societies with stringent codes are only
catacombs in which 10 embalm the
dead ideas OF the past No influence
ho Ids SO steady n check on true
medical progress as the -excusiveneSs
and conservatism OF these patty organi.
cations. They admit no truth, no dis
Covery, no light that radiates from any 9th
er circle than their own. They regard all
know edge as contraband that is not enter.
ed at their custom house and duly certified
by their magnates. These conservists are
not revolving lights; they shine ONLY in one
direction, present but one phase OF humanl-
| " though seen thousand times. But these
| regular doctors do not always agree tn
| each other. Who does not know OF the tear
| full Ciscrepancies in their opinions, and how
| terribly fatal to the patient wrong diagno-
sis and improper treatment have proved IN
| thousands OF cases, In case OF simple IN
| fiammation OF the urethra ana bladder
| (urethro .cystitis) that came under our
notice a short time since in this city, one
physician had pronounced the disease
| cystic tumor, a second said II wa, prolap-
| sls uIeri Calling WON'T, while third, pro-
| Tossing wOndrous skill, but knowing noth-
| ing as err ed that the lungs were the seat OF
! the trouble AS might be expected none oil
! these relieved the patient; while under pro
per treatment proceeding from correct
| diagnosis the disease was promptly cured
| SO Of many obscure diseases OF the nervous
system, lymphstics and blood how often
are they pronounced dyspepsia, liver COM
paint, something wrong" with the lungs,
! heat &C. Who that has been sick has not
! been trifled with in this manner. From the
| college professor to the village doctor diff
| terent disease has been name 4 and differ
ent prescription given. And yet these are
the men who cry "humbug" when a physl'
| clan asserts his independence, acknowledge
| his duty TO the sick rather than TO medical
societies, mskes up his practice from the
good OF all sch Tools, and discal DIS the dead
| ideas Of the past.
Fees for consultation, examination, ADVICE
and treatment within the reach OF all, in
no case exceeding the charges OF family
physicians.
Medicines for all Diseases by n all and ex-
press to all parts Of the country.
! Office Hours-S 10 II, l:S0 10 3, and $50 10 y.