The Red Cloud chief., 1879-01-30
MEDICINE AND TINE PRESS.


As sp~rofession we have been inclined
Ia put q ban on all who proposed 10 IN
struct the people. We have severely
censursd III. display "a successful prac-
tice either In surgery or medicine. We
have wen questioned the prUpricty Of
speciAiues. We hav. been Jealous Of
those 10 whom ourselves and the public
concealed special accomplishments.
W. have kept In the rut u prscon.
ceised prejudice, add have educated
b,gotry far beyond any other learned
profession. The pulpit, does not hest
tate while IL publicly appeals 10 the
masses on the most accessible rostrum
Ia the land. to spread far and near old
and new truth, throughout the press.
The lawyer Is eve advertising his
wares at the most prominent and pub.
lie locality In the country. He Is al.
ways before the people In the court
room. On the political rostrum. and In
the press. Every judicial opinion IL
published Ia the press. ~ well as In the
Official organ. And why should the
medical profession be enforced 10 put
their light under n busbel.' or mu,sle
their lips and their pens. while igno-
rance, empiricism and ~pretension
boldly arrogate 10 themselves knowl-
edge, science. and philanthropy by their
garbled exhibitions In public, In their
itincrant m~ountebanks; in their brsren
assurance 81 success. and progress, by
cards. hhndbills, insurance companies.
divinity afidaviis, and every other on
ceivable and ~incoaceivablc wayp Why
these things should be. and our practice
and our ethics require II US n false
modesty, and an inappropriate silence,
| do not understand. In fact. under the
head 81 duties ~ the profession u the
public" tcode 81 ethics) we are In.
structed to ''be ready To give counsel
10 the public In relation 10 matters es-
pccia ly appertaining TO u profession,
rs ON subjects of medical police. pub
lie hygiene, and legal medicine" What
further character do we wsntp II Is
u practice more than our ethics that
IL ut fault. There ARE many. very many
things In the code that are excellent;
but what is disturbing the harmony and
usefulness Of the profession, is, that n
few bigots, fanatics, and Pharisees at
h'thHN w 'Nssut' " WI HIlNhtt anu DtT-
sonal ends, instead of for the good Of
the great whole Of the profession. II
sc,encc IL truth, publish Il. II our pro-
fession Is right and meritorious. Il, need
not fear to enter the list, and challenge
the utmost sincerity. II IL Is benciiccnt
and fine and noble. M the fathers and
founders contended and meant IL should
be, why not enlist the press. aud every
other popular agency we possess, To
plant u In the heart VI the people. and
shew them the true way9 Why not
rise In our might and put out these false
lights which have been held up 10 the
people and which they have ignorantly
but honestly followede They look ~
us as their natural guardians and pro-
%tectors, and Justly 80, while we fall Ia
recognize our responsibility and allow
them Ia perish under the hands Of the
mere prctender. W. are more 10 blame
than they. II Is our business TO give
them light, to warn, to instruct and
encourage. But under false views, or
wrong prccedents. we fail To give the
note Of warning, and they are left. the
prey Of every pretender and unprin-
cipled and ignorant charlatan.
The national association has endorsed
by Its silence the recommendation of
its presiding officer. Now Is the pro-
pitious time to agitate; yes, agitste Is
the word. agitate in our own bounda-
ries the right and the duties II the pro-
f~cssion 10 the public, and Of the public
to the profession. Flash the bright light
Of truth ON the public mind. through
tho daily press. lternte and rciterate
tho gross, glazing wickcdness practiced
On the simple, honest, unsuspecting, by
the itinerant sharks. ard on the whole
crowd Of medical shysters and pretend.
crs. We have the ability IL we had the
will. Every community has the facts
and the figures, II properly arranged
and presented, to make their ears Jingle
and their faces crimson. W. can bet.
ter shape public medical sentiment than
lawyers can political, or clergymen can
theological. for we number more and
have better access to the masses Of the
people; and II IL from sheer neglect and
bigotry OF our part that such a state of
things exists. We have slept. and An.
noyed and sought to devour each other.
while the enemies of legitimate medi-
cine have sown tarcs, and a rich har-
vest are they rcaping.