The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-02-12
cur @lio.
Medical Practice, Ancient and Modern.


for comparison between old physic and
young. Dr. Washington l.. Alice, Presi.
dent Of the Medical Society of this State,
in his annual address before that Assoeia-
tion, gave an account of some of the chan
ges of the past half century, aud contrasted
and compared and estimated their advant.
ages in the practice of medicine. Down
to the cholera seourge of 1882, and in a
less degree at its second outbreak in 1910,
blood-letting was an universal remedy, and
calomel and the other details Of "heroic
course Of treatment were freely prescrib-
ed. At the same time cold water and ice
were positively forbidden to fever patients,
because mercurials were considered fatally
incompatible with cold water. All this
has changed now, aud it is hard to say
whether the change is altogether gain,
just as it is to decide whether the real rea-
son is mere change Of fashion, or that
assigned by medical authorities an actual
loss of vital powers, a less rigorous physical
condition. Dr. Atlee does not accept
either the rule or the reason given for il,
and he thinks blood-letting ought to be
used more freely, and that the valuable
experience of old physic for nearly twenty
centuries should not be sacrificed to doubt
ful theories-to inexorable fashion. He
frankly states the advantage gained to the
regular practice of medicine by the grow.
ing success of homeopathy, that it was
thereby made more apparent than before
that many diseases got cured or passed off
without the aid of medicine; that is, if let
alone, they run through their course and
leave the patient in good health. To this
extent the allopathists have been inau.
enced and the general public has been
benefited.
Dr. Atlee pays his Acknowledgements to
the substantial discoveries and advances in
medicine and surgery, especially those of
our own countrymen, but he also attributes
much Of the increase of disease with which
physicians have to deal to the change in
the habits Of the people. Half century
ago these were much more simple and
healthful than in the present day houses
were smaller, with fewer stairs to mount.
and more means of ventilation in the open
hearths; women wore wholesome and SER
viceable clothes; their waists were not mar.
rowed, their lungs were allowed to expand,
their shoes we're low-heeled; both men and
women lived much in the open air, rode
on horseback, went to bed early and rose
early too. The other and unwholcsome
changes that have done most harm to
women are those made in the newest fash.
ions Of dress, which have neither health or
comfort, reason nor beauty to commend
them. The extravagance in amount and
weight of the dress itself is heightened by
the want Of case for the body and of the
bad distribution Of the various articles
prescribed by fashion. Wearing small
shoes, putting on furs for ornament, cover
ing the head with unnatural masses Of
false hair-all of these are items in the
/
bill of complaint preferred by Dr. Alice
on behalf Of the physicians against the
fashionable mothers of the country. 1t is
impossible to have wholesome children and
a sturdy race of men and women if the
parents of the present generation set at
defiance the laws of health. To the relief,
however, of sufferers, medicine in the last
half century has brought several inven-
tions that are peculiarly American, and the
most universal of all of these in its appli-
cation is the use of anasthetics, by which
suffering from pain has been reduced to
the smallest limits.
Not the least important of the changes
Of the last half century in medicine is
that produced by the education of women
in medicine and the large scope given
them for usefulness in branches Of the
healing art, for which they have peculiar
aptitude. The "Women's Medical Col
lege" and the "Womens Hospital are
developing new agencies in medicines un-
known to old physic, and time is rapidly
solving the question Of success or failure.
What women have done and are doing in
midwifery and other directions is being
done by men who pursue specialties in
practice; and although there is danger
that this tendency may be carrid to excess,
there is little doubt of the advantage to
the profession as well as the public OF hav-
ing men peculiarly adapted to each class
of disease make it the subject Of special
investigation. OF course the extremes
are met just as often in patients as in prac-
titioners, and DIR. Gross, in his address on
medical literature, tells the story Of an
English lecturer who thus reported to his
class the application of one of his own
patients; Doctor, | have come to you
about tumor, but must tell you that
DIR. A. has charge of my lungs, Dr. B.
takes care Of my head, DR.. c. attends to
my eyes, Df. D. looks after my digestion,
DR.. Il. has got my heart, aud each organ
In turn was specially turned over to its
particular specialist. Both DIR. Atlee and
Dr. Gross, while admitting the advantage
of exhaustive study of each function of
the human body, earnestly protest against
the education of medical men in only one
branch cf practice. A full and complete
training is the one condition of success,
and to attain it our medical schools must
and do aunntv ,cs&.w.t.-. z. IL l.