Daily globe., 1879-08-22
MEDICAL MARYELS.

There is no species of indignation that
equals that of quack upon being informed
hat he knows nothing of medical science.
The more ignorant he is the greater is his
indignation at being informed of this fact.
This being the case we are not surprised that
the body of fossil barnacles yclept the ma
tional board of health has compelled the
resignation of one of the most efficient work
ers on behalf of the yellow fever sufferers at
Memphis, DR.. John johnson. DR.. John
sons offense consisted of telegraphing to the
board that if they could not show more
efficiency and actually accomplish something
for the relief of the poor, suffering citizens
Of Memphis instead of contenting them
selves with sending out "wishy- -washy
everlasting food'' of circulars, bulletins,
pronunciamentoes, interviews and ancient
opinions they would become more unpopu-
lar, and that the people were becoming tired
of waiting. This provoked the most
intense indignation among the members of
the board. The presumption of man who
was simply an inspector of the public health
in the fever stricken city in limiting that the
circulars, bulletins, pronunciamentoes, in
terviews and ancient opinions of board of
national origin were not having the effect of
vanquishing the epidemic was past forbear-
ance, and he was severely reprimanded and
subsequently requested to resign, which he
did. His case will forever after be warn
;pr fc u1o DO ;oI,k
feel inclined to doubt the efficacy of the
boards treatment of the disease.
The GLOBE hastens to retract anything it
may have said derogatory of the abilities of
the gentlemen who compose the national
board of health. We have no doubt they
are masters of the art of healing, and that
the proper method of treating the yellow
fever is to read to the patients, say once q
day, a bulletin from the headquarters at
Washington. If this does not effect cure
one of the regulation pronunciamentoee
| might be prescribed. One dose of this is
generally sufficient, for Immediately
after taking it the patient is relieved
| of all pain, is placed in his overcoat-a
wooden one-and the success of the treat.
ment is demonstrated. Occasionally there
are desperate cases, however, that presist in
getting we'll. These should be treated with
the whole course-frst bulletin, then q
circular, followed by one or two pronuncia-
mentoes and an interview or two, and finally
as der7aaer Tessort an ancient opinion may
| ha thrown in This will fafch tho vooSi
| obstinate case in existence.
Some people may be uncharitable enough
to point to the steady increase of tho cpl.
demic at Memphis as an evidence that the
national boards treatment is not proper
These are ignorant of the real nature of the
case. It is tho fault of ihe disease, not ot
the treatment of it by the national board
The cholera, or the small -pox, or the scarlet
fever, or any other disease that had any re-
spect for itself, would long ago have fed tht
country afrighted at the edicts of the board
It is a foreign product devoid of those fin,
instincts, that veneration for antiquity anG
that respect for s'oficial' utterances tt at are
Inherent in the natives. When it becomes
cclimatea and more familiar with the ma
chinery of our government in general an6
national boards of health in particular, il
will no doubt be more susceptible to proper
influences. As yet, however, it partakes tot
much of the characteristics of the peopl.
of the countries from which it emigrated-
prediction for revolutionary doings.