The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-11-20
DR.. Longdon
Professional Liberality.

Before we can have true progress in medi-
| cal science the profession must be emanci
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 enunciated, They
. must exercise their own Judgments and not
wholly depend on the brains OF a few emil
nent men who, having nothing else to do,
have added volume .or two 10 medical
literature. Their minds must not be tram
meled by the arbitrary restrictions OF party
organizations. The members OF medical
societies do themselves but little credit,
while they greatly hinder the advancement
Of medical science, by arrogating TO them
selves the right to exclude all knowledge
that does nor chance to flow through their
secret channels. In this, as well as branding
every one charlatan who does mot endorse
their ethics, they only show their own
weakness and folly. such eXclusiyeness
might answer were medicine an exact
science; but so long as many OF Its princi-
pies are so vague and unsettled, so long as
many OF the great leaders III the pyofession
hold and teach entirely opposite views on
| the primary effects OF even opium, II seems
| to us 10 be neither wise nor modest. When
professors of the healing art can hoard
knowledge, as the miser gold and subject II
TO the same sure tests, 1t will be In
much better taste to become so wholly
exclusive. When they can agree in dag
noss and treatment 1t will be quite time
enough to wrap themselves in self-adoring
pride. Medical Associations with liberal by
laws might accomplish much good, but
those societies with stringent codes are only
catacombs in which TO embalm the
dead ideas of the past. No influence
holds SO steady check on true
medical progress as the exclusiveness
| and conservatism Of these patty organi.l
cations. They admit no truth, no dis
covery, no light that radiates from any 9TH
er circle than their own. They regard all
knowledge 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 humani-
ty though seen thousand times. But these
regular doctors do not always agree with
each other. Who does not know OF the fear
full discrepancies in their opinions, and how
terribly fatal TO the patient wrong diagno-
sis and improper treatment have proved IN
thousands OF cases. In a case OF simple in
flammatiOn OF the urethra AMI bladder
(urethro'cystitis) that came under our
notice short time since in this city, one
physician had pronounced the disease q
cystic tumor, second said ii was prolap-
sus uteri CALLING womb) while a third, pro-
Tossing wOndrOus skill, but knowing moth
ing, asserted that the lungs were the seat of
the trouble. As might be expected none OF
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, lymphatics and blood how often
are they pronounced dyspepsia, liver com.
plaint, something wrong" with the lungs,
nCart &c. Who that has been sick has not
been trified with in this manner. From the
college professor to the village doctor q diff
ferent disease has been name and differ |
ent prescription given. And yet these are
the men who cry "humbug" when physi- |
clan asserts his independence, acknowledges
his duty to the sick rather than to medical
societies, makes up his practice from the |
good OF all schools, and disca, 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 mail and ex-
press To all parts OF the country.
Office Houis-S 10 II, l:SO TO 5, and 6:30to 8.
|. H. L0NGDON, 2. NJ, M. D.,
1909 EOFF Gold Filthy Street,
Opposite the Cathedral.
now WHEELING, W. VA.