New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-09-07
DTFFFRJNG DOCTORS.

case has lust occurred in Philadelphia
which not only illustrates the wide difference
of opinion between the Homeopathic and Allo-
pathic Schools of Medicine, but suggests that
the radical disagreement may be followed by
disagreeable results. An inmate of the Home
for Aged and Inlrm ColOrrd Persons added
TO his infirmities by becoming lunatic. Two
phy.icians of the homeopathic school certified
to the negro's insanity, and desired his re-
moval to the proper department Of the aims
house. The signature of one OF the outdoor
musicians was also necessary, and this, upon
being applied to, Dr. Muller, an allopathlc
practitioner refused to give, as he did not
consider the two homGOpaths to he doctors
at ALL He was afraid he said, II he signed
the paper that he would be expelled from the
PHILADELPHIA Medical Society. While the dis
pute was going on rather warmly, the patient
settled it, so far rs he was concerned, by
jumping from n fourth-story window OF the
Home, instantly killing himself lie thus
vindicated the diagnosis of the disciples
of Hahnemann, and proved that, what
ever might be said of their devotion
TO ininitesimal doses they at least knew
n lunatic when they saw him. Meanwhile, the
Board of Guardians are investigating the mat
ter, and we really wish that they could hit
upon some way of reconciling the champions
of the rival systems We confess, however,
that we are entirely at a loss to know how
they might accomplish so desirable a result,
unless they could also devise some way OF en-
tirely changing human nature In this partic-
ular case, it is true, we do not see why the
allopathc practitioner might not have recog-
Missed the hOmGOpathiStS rs medical men, so
far rs TO take their word fer it that the negro
was mad. At least, they knew something OF
the symptoms OF lunacy, as most people DO,
whether the are physicians or not; and IN
such an emergency ii was hardly wise to stand
upon a point OF etiquette. The truth or fa!sity
OF medical dOgmas was not at all involved,
and il was q mere matter Of humanity to put
n raying maniac where he could neither harm
himself nor anybody else. We question wheth-
en- tne Philadelphia Medical Society would
have expelled DR.. Miller for granting his GER
tifcate, even though il formally admitted that
DIS. Thatcher and Banks were physicians. 1t
was not a matter of consultation. 1t involved
no question of practice. If DR.. Miller had
quietly stepped over to the Home, seen the
patient, and then signed the paper no blow,
we think, would have been struck at medical
orthodoxy which it could not bear
Not merely for the sake OF scientific comfy,
but also for that of suffering humanity, it Is
to be hoped that, rs knowledge advances.
these fcuds of medical schools will diminish
in intensity. Just how this desirable end is to
be reached, we do not comprehend, because
the opportunity for compromise seems to be so
small but we are sure that it will not be at
tanned by intense bigotry on either side. In
asmuch rs there are several Thousand homGo-
pathic doctors in the country, with patients
numbered by the hundred thousand, they are,
as a body entitled to respectful treatment.
The same is true of the allopathic professors.
If both cannot agree in essentials, they need
not he always quarrclns; and when they can
act in concert mere cOmmOn-sense requires
that they should do so.