The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-12-28

under double aspect, and
may here, for the sake of clearness, be
stated under two heads:
l. Questions of fact Medical SCI
ence is not new system, dependent
upon secular changes and VacillAting
with popular revolutions and pro-
gressions. 1t had its infancy long
ages ago, and like all sciences the be-
ginnings we're small. There has been
P steady development with the CEN
turles and many new discoveries and
notifications OF opinion have marked
its pathway; but the great physical
the underlying elements of
the science, do not change, and have not
changed. As far as they go they are
fixed, immutable, subject to no cavil
and open to no speculation. New
truths may appear, but they are always
the result of researches based upon
these elemental doctrines which have
become as certain as the most demon
stable proposition in mathematics.
The human body is the same iC all
ages and in every individual Of the
human species; and its functions, or
gans and structure remain the same
to-day They have always been. Upon
these accepted and accredited truths
the regular practitioner places himself,
and in accordance with these he must
shape his practice and conduct his in
vestigations. Having once understood
them he can TO more deny them than
be can controvert the evidence of his
En Of
legitimate and regular medicine since
the days OF ESculapius, AID it has
ever maintained the established truths
of the science inViolata from csyiling
empiricism and unressoring dogma
tIsm.
In all ages thers have been quac ks
and empires, whose ignorance has
led. them to abandon thu established
truth, or whoze l1naverJ has found an
easy victim in the helpless and credu-
lous public. These bsvs pursued a
pir.tical existeucs at war with the
fixed canons of science, and at war
with the legitimate aim of the healing
arr. Against those the medical pro-
iession proper hiss assumed an uncom-
promising hostility, dictated by their
own sense of right and truth and 8
due regard for the safety and happi-
Eess OF public necessarily debarred
from q full knowledge Of the facts.
Homeopathy" is but one of a thou
sand nbsurditieS whose sbOrt-lived sue
cess and ultimate exposure have marked
the progress of medical science; and
the rc2ult has in every instance yindi-
Gated the action of the regular physi-
clan Sud confirmed the truth of the
fundamental doctrines upon which he
has based ms position. The opposi-
ton to thsse errors is not matter OF
discretion and opinion with the honest
doctor. They are not questions which
appeal to his charity. or enlist his for
bearance in the behalf of libeI;.l and
catholic philanthropy. They are mat
tiers of stern facs and reason, and If he
understands bis science he kHOaos the
falBity of the positions assumed, and
can no more tolerate and indorse them
than be could tolerate and indoIse an
impostor in any other walk of life.
Once persuaded and convinced of the
facts of his science, 1t then becomes a
question of paramount duty, ques-
ton of common honesty question
not debatable IN the mind of nan
true to himself and true to the human
ity he has assumed to serve. The facts
being settled, we come to the second
consideration:
9. Questions of ethics "A knowl-
edge uf the established facts of medi-
cine having been brought home to the
physicians mind (and they are pre-
umed to be known to every pIacti-
tionel), his conduct then assumes an
ethical bearing and becomes proper
subject of professional scrutiny. Even
as the facts underlying medical science
had their origin in early ages and have
developed gradually, so the principles
of medical ethics are of ancient birth
and venerable history. They have been
coeval and coeXtensive with tho
growth of medicine, and have in all
ages and under all circumstances actu-
ated the regular profession in its COM
bat against error and empiricism. They
spirit peryading the minds and con-
trolling the actions Of all honest ply
sicians from tho time when Hippoc-
rates sworo his Disciples to uphold
truth and dcnounce error and fraud,
down to the latest promulgation OF
our national associations. Medical
ethics do not constitute an arbitrary
| code, framed to suit theoretical bias,
or devised in the interest of particu.
lar sect. They are worldwide in their
operation, based on general principles
of honesty and candor, and have for
their object the preservation of human
life and the protection OF human frail-
ty. One sentiment gives tone to all
the provisions of our code; one prin-
ciple indicates the direction of all our
professional regulations. In our re-
lations to the public, and in such in
tercourse among ourselves az is likely
to Influence and impress the public,
the ruling guide to all our actions is
the precept that we shall do nothing
to impose Oh popular credulity and
want of technical knowledge in our
science; nor shall we encourage, coua-
tenance, or indorse any who do go i'm
ptSO hpOA VI oPpS~A ~ PNHAAS
ignorance. This is principle
founded on common honesty, and
has nothing peculiar to itself among
the cahous which every honorable
man has prescribed to himself
in life. When we come to apply this
doctrine to our professional conduct,
our knowledge OF the facts of medI-
cal science indicates very clearly the
course to be pursued in reference to
those who are practicing at variance
with known and established truths.
We can pursue but one line of action.
We kHo,0 these irregular physicians to
be in every sense OF the words quGckS
and humbuJs, and our honesty as men
and cur horror as physicians demsnd
that We shall exert our influence, when
placed in position to do so, against
them and the systems they advocate.
This ycu may contend indicates clearly
the fate all i-regulars would meet
with at our hands. if left to control
the board alone. It by no means nee
essarily follows. The law prescfibes
the branches in which the applicant
shall be qualified, and the hoard can
not go beyond them without violating
the law and stultifying themselves. To
issue certificate to one who has
passed the required examination is in
no sense a professional Endorsement,
and would have no meaning IN the
4 L IL. 4.