The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-02-24
THE REGULATION OF THE PRACTICE OF
MEDICINE.


Elsewhere, this morning, we publish bill
introduced in the senate by Hon. John M
Duncan, of Gregg county, and now pending
before the legislature, to regulate the practice
Of medicine end surgery. The bill also cons
aims provisions for the regulation Of persons
who rrorose TO practice pharmacy, but OF
this feature OF the bill we do not in this
article intend to treat, further than to en-
dorso the proposition that Fequires all
pharmacists to show by examination that they
are qualified TO prepare medical prescriptions
and to mix drugs The ends aimed 10 be at
tanned by this bill are desirable in the ex-
treme The profession of medicine is one in
which the public, tho great masses of the
people. are more directly interested than any
other. Il hss 10 do immediately with the
health, happiness and lives of US all. We
place no profession, not even the ministry
in the front of it, for none have SO much Of
charity, SO much Of patience, 80 much OK
genuine, tender sympathy for the sufferings and
woes OF mankind u has the medical profes
sion. No other profession knows so mush
of the weaknesses, mental and physical, so
much Of the helplessness Of their fellow
mortsls, or sees SO much of the sorrows, the
pains and sgonics, the wants and Necessities,
the shsdow and sunlight Of this life. No
other profession is so lily paid. If the doc
tors only got fees for al the work they do
they would ali be rolling in wealth, but
sickness. is ons Of the accompaniment OF
poverty, and The hooking, relentless of in
temperance sud dimolutcness. Riches give
power and the wealthy can build redoubts
redans, fortresscs and fortifcations sgsinst
disease and arm them with heavy ofduance
10 drive off the stacks of the isiidious foes
of health. But II disease SHOULD storm and
force them all, scaling the rampara OF COM
Portable clothing close, warm houses, we'll
cooked food of The best qualities, an abund.
ance of fuel, and cleanliness, why
the best skiIl can be commanded TO
eombst them after tho citadel il
attacked. 10 appreciate tbs mercy and
goodness of the medical profession. we must
kpow them. AT All hours Of tho day and
night, whether it DO ltorming or ths sun be
smiling upon the green earth, they listen TO
.he caus Of suffering, never stopping to think
Of rswega, never needing he death that turks
f,r thcm IN the hhunss Of vice, in the fetid
ar Of contsgign, in the dire malaris of cpl
demic. or their own, means they give,
many, many times whsn TO do so they
must 90 on a crust on tue, morrow, to buy
medicines for the needy. or to proyise the
snssenance for .lifo Az the bedsides of the
sick, kncwing what dsease and lis psngs are
upon mind and body, they Go not ask the
victim how it came upon him, but working to
alleviate it, they are indeed angels OF mercy.
When by the bedside of aIffsrirg paiient,
pain wringing his brow and dis:ass gnawing
at his viials, the true physician thinks not OF
reward, has no hope of preferment He takes
no heed of what mis- patients politics
NAV be- he makes no inquiry as to the alter
at Which the sufferer kaeels when be utters
his prayers to his Gtd. He sees neither
beauty or ugliness in those he treats, and age
be does not consider, save in so far rs II may
aid him in his diagnosis, and sex is only a
datum from which to judge. AS the times
have progressed and civilization and research
have thrown brighter light upon the
mysteries. Of this world aud opened wider the
door 10 the areanum of nature, SO has the
science of medicine advanced and developed
and progressed. The dogmas Of Gslen and
Hppocrates are dead letters now, and the
humbusgery of ancient days, thought then
n. s., 81, ,crco. re- heer exploded While At
frs. tho doctor was but humbug flled
with supmititions, he was later on a
charlatsn ADD mountebank, but now
he must be scientist, if no
be indeed physician. The object of this
bill is 70 protect the science OF medicine, and
its genuine, true votsries, and to crush out
empyricism and quackery. The objects ara
commendable, and If this bin can accomplish
them, il will meet one OF the dire needs Of the
country. But will it do III We fear not.
There /. one clauae that renders aogstcry
the whole bill. dcprves it Of H. force, 10 our
opinion. The provision that aay applicant
70 The bosra Of examiners FOR certificate.
who caa show diploms from any medical
college chartered by any state N ths union
need not be examined. is a lcop-hole through
which multitude Of quscks Gao creep II