Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1876-01-25
CRITICISMS ON THE AGE IN
WHICH WE LIVE.
BIZ D. r. MANNING.


Lawyers, take no offense from our
remarks in . former article, be con-
soled, you are not alone in this fast
age there is another class Of pro-
fessionals who will not escape our
structures. I mean the physicians.
There was . time when Medical
Doctor" attached to q persons name
was . symbol Of honor; but now,
the profession of medicine has be-
come so disgrsced by empyrics that
there is no honorable significance
attached to the title M. D., except
as applied to mule driver. Formerly
physicians we're required TO make
their profession q subject Of much
study and care before entering
upon itsr responsibilities. Years of
laborious toll wss passed, pouring
over books Of noted ability; and
then entering into hospital to
practice with physician Of expert
ence and wisdom, there to practice
what he had read, and learned in
the lecture room; there to learn his
weakness and imperfections. When
thus carefully schooied, and not
until then, was he considered quail
fled to go alone before the public
to deal with the lives Of men, women
and children. The people then had
confidence in the medical profes-
sion. and felt secure in tru sting
their health and their lives to its
devotees. But how is it in this age
This age Of advancement and i'm
prevent; this age Of light and of
boasted wisdom this age that
looks upon the past as cloudy and
dark? am sorry to say that the
present physician like the present
lawyer is NO more a man Of dignity,
confidence, honor or ability.
He who aspires to eminence,
takes a hasty glance at the so-called
learned professions, and never once
considering his ability or adaptation
for either, but rather considers
which Of them he could practice in
with the most monetary success.
He comes to the conclusion, all
things considered, that the practice
of medicine will yield most fruit
fully in gold and silver.
He thcreupon. in the moment Of
hasty discussion, commences his
labors for the profession, full Of
dreams of success, dignity and
honor, but about ell of wealth and
afiluence. As he is limited in means
his preparations must be limited.
He reads Eberlie or Dungleson on
practice; wades through DR.. Gums
Family Physic ian," then retires
for few months, ostensibly for the
purpose of attending a course OF
lectures at some medical college.
but in reality for the purpose Of
buying . diploma. He returns and
places . copy Of his diploma or
record in compliance with the law
that requires him to have a diploma.
whether he has brains or not. He
then procures q few ounces OF
ipecac, . few dollars worth of DR..
Josselyn's powders" some Of Mrs.
Winslow's Soothing Syrup. q half
dozen old bones. q pair Of forceps,
Q two wheel wagon, and Q bowie
knife-and he is qualified.
His preparatory lsbors being
over, he has much time for street
walking. talks much about science
of medicine, and uses medical
terms he does not understand, and
thus attracts the attention OF
strangers. He shows his diploma
to some unsuspecting person as an
unmistakable evidence OF ability.
II is written in an unknown tongue.
He cannot read il himself, but 1t
looks fine and scholastic, and he
soon receives call. He mounts
his gig and drives fast through the
streets after the manner OF an animal
show, then strikes for the suburbs,
as though all outside of town
WAS siok, and he the only medicine
man. In his diagnosis Of dis
ease he looks wise and serious, feels
the pulse and looks At the tongue;
but does not know any more about
the disease Of the patient than . boy
does Of high glory. Fortunately for
him, nature cures hts first patient,
and he rushes to the press with an
article ot self lf-lsudation, aud thus he
becom-s noted for peculiar skill aud
sbility-and he kills oil the rest.
Gold Hill, Jan. is, 1879.