The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-04-15
DoctorS-A Witty Defence Of the
Profession. 3.

!, Professor N. r. Smith, the fa-
nous surgeon and physician, lee
tured on G Doctors, a few days
ago, at the Masonic Temple in Bal
timore. We quote as following
from the Suns report; :;si3a ga
;, Being introduced by Mr.. W. FL.
Sadler, the Professor said he need
ed no introduction, as he knew
those present, or was known to
them, if not professionally, as a
scmi-centenarian citizen OF Balti-
more. lie was not present to ira
duce that profession, SO many of
whose members he himself had
taught; for in SO doing be would
traduce himself. His friend, Gov
Pratt, had asked him, some time
ago, if doctors at large did not c6lo 6
more harm than good, ann shs had
replied that, taking the legitimate
MEMBERS. they did not but if
quacks in and out ofsthe profess
sion, and patent medicines were
included, he must answer in the
affirmative. It was the same with
religion, no one will deny that the
Christian faith is productive of
good, but take all beliefs and the
result is bad. q a4f
There is empiricism in every pro-
fession; there is much of it in re-
ligion, and very much in the law;
but not so much in medicine as law
because there is less chance for
humbug. Laughter. There is
no profession so much maligned as
the medical profession. If a doc
tor is put on the stage he is inva-,
riably made ridiculous, and even
children are taught to dread doc
tors. Ma says, ''Be good boy
Willie, or I will send for the doc
tor and Willie is afraid as he
knows the doctor will come for a
fee. Laughter. He told an in
cident where a boy had an abscess,
and when Prof. Smith was men
toned the boy said he would have
him.
Something had to be done that,
while not according to moral prin-
ciples, was necessary. He (the
Professor) was introduced as uncle
John; Of California, and talked
with the boy about his disease.
The surrounding parts had to be
shaved of hair, and the boy wan
ted to do it himself. While he
was doing it the Professor said he
was working awkwardly and asked
the boy to let him have the razor.
The boy did SO, cheerfully, and in
an instant the abscess was opened,
but the boy cried out. "You devil
you're not Uncle John; your
names Smith p [Laughter.l / a.. a>
Great men, as well as small, ma
igned doctors. Napoleon did not
ike doctors, but favored a certain
This Inconsistency. was
olain in view of the tact that no
,ne can be a good surgeon without
knowledge of medicine. Fred
'rick the Great was also inconsis-
ent in sending for the great ply
ician, DIR. Zimmerman. The King
aid, II presume doctor, you have
,ut great many souls out of the
vorld," to which the doctor re-
lied, "Not so many as your ma
esty, nor with such glory to my !
elf" ..' q 6
If the medical profession have
one nothing else they have at !
east benefited humanity. In the
natter of small pox particularly :
ook whatit has done. Here the +
rofessor detailed the progress e
nade by the profession in the treat /
nent OF that disease. During his
on this subject he said the
REVEALING impression that Job had t
he small pox is a mistake, for it is 4
elated that his comforters sat by t
i'm seven days and nights, where .
$ if Job had "broke OUT there is '
OF the slightest doubt but that his ,
omforters would have taken quick =
cave. Ilaughtcl.] t
Another bencfaction given by
octors is that of such medicines il
s guard against malarious infuen- 8
es. Some sixty years agoa vessel
'ent up the Nile some three hun t
red miles, and after while she ?
ame floating back with every soul :, -
lat had been on board lying dead +
Il the deck. Now vessels visit T.
lat place regularly without any o
fleet and all on the account of i,
uiuine. Of late England has p
aimed a victory over Ashantee, not
y improved cannon or well-drilled p
rmies, but because quinine has e
nabled them to brave the insidu- a
us miasma of the place. Quinine S.
i'll gain another victory. When, Il, u
it surely will be, the Darien ~ ~
zip channel will be built, twill be I"
one as much by the sovereign
,wer of ouinine as by enternrise