Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-03-27
DOCE0 RS.
A WHY ncEensa af the Profession.

Prof. N. Il, Smith, tie famous sur
geon and physician, lecturedo on ''ooc-
tors, a Few days ago., at the
Masonic Temple in Baltimore. We
quote as follows from the Suns report:
Being introduced by Mr. w. III. Sad
Ter, the Professor said he needed no
introduction, as lie knew those present,
| or was known to them, II not profes-
sionaliy, as a semi-centenaFian citizen
of Baltimore He was not presep5 to
| traduce that profession, 50 many OF
| whose members he himself had taught;
| for in so doing he would traduce him
self His friend, Gov. Pratt, had
asked him, some time. ago, if DO tors
at large did rot do more harm than
good, and he had replied that, taking
the legitimate members, they did not,
| but if Guaclzs in and out of the profess
sion, and patent medicine were inclrI-
| ded, he must answer in the affirmative.
It was the same with religion, do one
Will deny that the Christian faith is
productive of good, but take all be-
liefs and the result is bad.
| There is empiricisn in every profess
| sion there is much of il in religion,
and very much liz the law; but not 50
much in medicine as law, because there
is less chance for humbTg. Laugh
ter. There is 80 profession so much
maligned as the medical profession. If
a doctor is put on the stage he Is III
vraiably made ridiculous, and even
children are taught 20 dread doctors.
Ma says, "Be a good boy, Willie, or I
will send for the doctor" amp Willie is
afraid, as he knows the doctor will
come for fee. Laughter. He told
an incident where boy had an abs
cess, and when Prof Smith was men
toned the boy said he would not hav5
him.
Something had to be done that,
while not according to moral princi-
pies, was necessary. He (the Profess
sort was introduced as Uncle John, of
California. and talked with the boy
about his disease The surrounding
parts had to be shaved OF hair, aud the
boy wanted to do it himself. While he
| was doing it the Professor said lie was
working awkwardly and asked the boy
to let him have the razor. The boy
did SO, cheerfuily, and in an instant
the abscess was opened, bat the boy
cried out, "Ycu devil you're not
Uncle John your names Smith Il
Laughter.
Great men, as well as small, malign-
ed doctors. Napoleon did not Ike
doctors, but favored Il certain surgeon.
This inconsistency was plain IN view of
the fact that no one can be good sur
geOn without knowledge of medicine
Frederick the Great was also inc0rsis-
tent in sending for the great physician,
DIR. Zimmerman. The King said, ~
presume doctor, You have put a great
many souls out OF the world, to which
the doctor re, ,lied, ''Not so many rs
your Majesty, ror with such glory to
myself"
If the medical profession have done
nothing else they have at last benefited
humanity. In the matter OF smallpox
particularly lock what it has done -
Here the professor detailed the PRO-
gross made by tho profession III t;e
treatment of thrt disease During his
remarks on this subject he said the
prevailing impression that Job had the
smallpox is It mistake, for it IS related
that his comfortcrs sat by HIM sevcn
days and night, whereas If Joo had
''broke out" there IS not the slightest
doubt but that his coniorters would
have taken quick leave Ila"ohter :
Another eLefactiOu given hv doe
tors is that of such medicines :,s Guard
against nIalarious Influences. Some
sixty years ago 4 vessel went NJ the
Nile some three hundred miles, and
after n while she came iolting back
with every soul that had been on board
lying dead on the deck. Now vessels
visit that place regularly without any
effect, and all on account Of Guin;ne.
OF late England has gained a victory
over Ashantee, not by improved can
non or we'll drilled armies, but because
quinine ras enabled them to brave the
lnsldious miasma of the placa. Oui-
nine will gain another victory. When,
as it surely will be, the Darien ship
channel viii be built, it Will be done
as much by the sovereign power OF
quinine as by enterprise and industry.
1t is estimated that there are , 400
distinct diseases, out Of which l, 800
are spontaneous. Scarlet fever is
often spontaneous. and it Is 4 question
if any treatment is good for it except
natures own. The belief that diseases
cannot be cured or broken up without
Herculean medicines is great mis-
take. Even pulmonary consumption
has been cured ere now by nature her
self, and i'll this connection DR.. Smith
related great many very Interesting
circumstances attending wonderful
cures
He once prescribed for sick girl,
and afterward met her mother, who
said the girl got well from Il home
cure, and not from the medicine. The
professor was anxious to know what #
! was, and the woman WAS diffident in
telling. At lassshe said ii was simply
the burned ashes OF seven hairs cut
from tho ears Of black cat. Laugh
} ter. The fuac,. of imaeination is Ger
tainiy very great, but much OF the
good attributed to the results OF I'M
agination como from natures law.
Prof. Smith stated it rs fact that
whiskey and tobacco bring more dis
eases than all other causes III the
world. Even the proportion OF acct
dents are mainly owing 10 nervousness
or intemperanCe produced ~ these an
ticles. They did more harm than the
entire =, 4OG remedies OF inaterla medi-
ca did good. They were also mainly
instrumental in shortening the average
life of people generally. he believed
that nature intended man to live one
hundred years, and invariably when
dying before that age it was owing to
causes brought about by the,individua..
He argued that all domesticated ami
mails live to five times the age of their
maturity, whereas man matured at p
and died according to the average in
civilized countries at 30 years. The
professor closed abruptly Just when
the audience were warmed with inter
est in the subject. Rising from his
chair, he expressed his thanks to the
audience and babe them good night.
From the Conrier- Journal
gseeuarasionS for the ySesshi,u g.