Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-12-30
NO.. 3.

The realization of the surgeons desire for
law of privilege would not mend matters
and any one able to think nationally will per-
celve that. What, then, shall we propose in
order to rectlfy the present troubles due to
malpractice? | will answer that first of all
the matter must be well and candidly and
thoroughly investigated in the light of day and
IN race OF the public; then we may arrive at
certain conclusions and plans that will be
good and equitable, and which will be so con-
sidered by the community. You may have
laws passed in the name of the public, while
the public are in their sympathies directly
averse to them. What will be the result Of
such laws?
What is the true source of the trouble?
Has it anything to do with the inter-relation
of the five sects of medical practice which pre-
vail in the United States? Some of it. per-
haps, Is thereto traceable, but not so much as
one might suppose, and will give my reason
for that opinion The surgeons who active
ly promoted nearly every case of malpractice
against an Allopathic practitioner were them
selves of the Allopathic persuasion. If say
that nearly all cases tried in Maine have been
against Allopathic surgeons, (and it is SOY. |
might appear to give expression to preju-
dice; it is but just to remark that the Allo-
paths are more numerous in Maine than are
any of the other sects of practitioners. We
must not, however. close our eyes to the fact
above stated that the Allopaths are exceeding
~ anolcted 10 the CRIME OF promoting NAL
prac,ice suits against one another am not
lhuch acquainted WIN the Homeopathic Fra
'ernltv Dut consider them, AS rule, quiet
and inoifensVe.
taxing INTO account all the facts known to
Us IN regard TO the spirit that moves the phy-
'lc'ahs IN Name the thought and conclusion
are irresisistible that the most of them thirst
for one another's blood. Never did I know
80 i'uch "hdefhahued SANDER adroitiy per-
ior'ie" "hohg any o'her Grass OF cltizens--
never 50 h"ch lying IN wait, ana secret muir
"ei VI one announcer CHARACTER. Know
oI very particular ana marked cases.
hiio" surgeon against "hom case OF NAL
practice was originated by the suggestions and
ihcltihgs of ms ieiiow-Ailopati, his neighbor,
'he result OF whlch was verdict OF damages
against the defendant, while the ease was by
no iheais TESS questionable than the late cases
against Jones ana sanger ana the remainder
Oh the result Is worse than the actual damages
'he poor man uoes not now seem 10 recog-
iiHc 'he uinerehce pet"een truth ana raise
hooo, anu III other Respects ne Is reduced
10 the general moral predlcament OF
an aporteu hahhoou. Let US call 10 mlnd one
vi the TWO great cases trled iateiy, the one
against the higher tuhcuoharv In certain
ASSOCIATION know OF 1eliow-Aliopath OF
'he ueiehdah'' not MS helghoor-one who
ceased not IN acting as a missionary among
.he people against the de1endant nave been
10 Visit lamiiles professionally, whom he also
iiau 'islted proiesslohaiiy ana neard tnem re-
ia'e HIS ionS-"iiiueu account OF tne case win
d s'ions nias against .he ueIehuaht mus
from m iaihiiy 10 ianiiiy through several towns
MS hinu Vi 'nihg is Dy no means rare II Is
decldeuiy prevalent Ihere Is here pro-
iounu hiorai turpituue' whlch' as long as II
remains, VIII Doll over In spite OF any laws
tiiat may pe maue against the poor. l nave
cohciuueu tiat !. Is something derived Dy ma
tastasls from reilglous spirit, something IN
heriteu rom the sec's' whose characteristics
nave ever peeh those OF men gnawlng and
chewing up one another, tearing at ana drag
gihg out one announcer MYERS the 1oui spirit
that plously grihned ana danced around the
nres over when reputed witches were burned,
Is sun ABROAD ana at WORK ana the deacon
VINO "oulu purn "Nch "ould ABOUT as soon
Durn deacon, II he could hnd an occasion.
ms spirit is not now connned to the relig-
ious community though IL RACES worst among
those who are in some way connected with
reiigioh' IL Is FOUND among those engaged in
the art OF the salvation OF the body, and woe
10 the country on account thereof. There Is
rule ana II Is not Dad rule, somewhere In
somebody's code OF ethics, that advertising
ms business Is inadmissable for doctor; but
the very men VINO most upholu the rule, or at
least are loudest IN Its praise, never cease to
prowl the country Ger, slandering one anoth-
er, ana advertising themselves without any
regard to truth. They even cancel the debts
OF patients, or promise to do so, by engaging
them or their friends TO run round and blow
for them, as people vulgarly term the foul
process.
SO mnch to show that to all appearance
more OF the mischief Is concocted among Al
lopathic doctors themselves here in Maine
than is traceable to the mutual attitude of the
medical sects have seen now and then
lift OF the finger against your humble servant,
but It was faint indeed, and the recoll of the
enemy was more precipitate than the advance.
II must be known that am ready TO speak
forth and expose each breach OF honor. am
ready either to say stand back and avaunt,
thou filthy, sneaking, slandering brute go
and hrst finish devourlng thy more kindred
brother, before thou oeglnnest on me-that his
flesh may yield thee little more strength for
the work or. II the attack be more serious,
would go so Tar as to advertise the offender
IN the puolc papers. ms, gentle reader, is
nn.AffN naN hon ma .taa