Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-06-04

anu nO4Ty pTttuQiCto Will uO iilOtS StOu, Dut,
their mission accomplished, they will, as in
the past, gradually blend with the priesthood
of science, until their distinctive dOgmas will
be merged with the laid away enthusiasms OF
the past "What has been will be-" and
"there is nothing new under the sum-"
The premature EMULATION of some of the
extremists in the sects, will go far to put of
day of general recopcilement on the part OF
their better informed AID more lib
idea, that in science SIS in truth,
there can be no exclusive school, and it will
embitter the great body of the profession SO
as to eff9ctually close the door of federation
of individual freedom of thought for long
time to come. These premature Civilizations
of few obscene enthusiasts are doing harm
in more ways than one, and in no way more
than in bringing upon themselves the scorn Of
their more liberal associates. The well
planned capture of an important outpost is
too frequently taken for presage of general
victory by the unthinking or designing, but
it is i'll boasting till after the battle that is
sure to follow.
There are very many regular physicians
who are ready to fraterniza with those who
profess to be dogmatists, but who are prac-
Iically rationalists in medicine, but it is on
the condition that they cease to be dogmat-
lists, and, while pursuing the practice accord
ing to their individual convictions, they cease
to appeal to public credulity under false
name, or asedhering to an idea In which they
have no longer any confidence. On the
othsr band, there is large and in
fuential portion of professad dog.
matists who practice nationally, and
would be quite glad to get out OF their false
position on any honorable basis, but against
whom the code operates detrimentally, so
that they can not change without throwing
themselves liable to the charge OF DESERVING
their oft asserted principles; whereas, if they
were allowed to meet on terms Of professional
and personal friendship and courtesy with
rational practitioners, they would gradually
become integral parts OF one common profess
sion, retaining their individual preferences for
methods Of cure. or adopting those advised by
counsel, in the general interests of Ether
patients. There are among the sects men of
learning and general skill; but, just in proper
ton as they are learned or skillful, are they
less dogmatic and more scientifically cosmo-
politan in the world of letters,'' in science
and in art. It is rot even probable that the
delegates from the New York State Medical
society will be admitted to seats in the associ-
alton, while it is almost certain that the dele
gates from New York city and county socie-
ties will be admitted, and as these delegates
are of all others the most opposed to the ac-
tion of their state society, the coming con-
fict will be almost entirely between the "gen-
tlemen from New York." though there are
quite a number of pieces of "heavy ord
nance on "the reserve" that may add mate
rally to the progress and prospects Of the
contest. Smart men tell well in ikirmish,
but weight is overwhelming in a charge all
along the line.
But there is still another view to be taken
OF the question. At the time the code was
adopted there were no statute laws in any
state regulating the practice of medicine,
and the people were victimiZed by a host of
most illiterate and ignorant charlatans, and il
was as much in the interest of the people as
of the profession that the code was adopted to
prevent genuine physicians from giving the
prestige of their authority to pretenders BY
meeting them in council.
Now, however, several states have passed
laws regulating the practice of medicine so
far as to prevent any one from practicing
without having obtained diploma from u
regularly chartered college, or passing an ex-
animation before board appointed for that
purpose by the state, and all regular gradu-
ates of such colleges are legalized practitiOn-
ers, and their rights are protected by the state
as against the herd Of utterly uneducated pre-
tenders, who otherwise would prey upon the
credulity of the people. Thus all graduated
physicians are on par before the law, and so
far Gas law can compel they are presumed
to be educated and intelligent physicians,
though they may have different opinions as to
the best methods of treating disease; but the
more thoroughly they are educated in any one
OF the schools the more they are likely to
know that brains must predominate over
dogma, and that there are many different and
opposite methods of treating disease that are
alike successful in the hands of the truly
skillful physician. Now, in such states as
have statutes regulating the practice of medi-
cine, SO far as to guarantee certain amount
of scientific education before any one is per-
mitted to practice, it is self evident that there
must be much higher standard than in those
states where no such laws obtain, and it is a
very grave point TO decide, as to whether it is
not, after all, better to leave physicians to
judge for themselves, as to the proprlety of
meeting in council with men who have hither-
to claimed ssect name," but are willing to
recognize that truth is confined to no close
communion, and that science knows dogma,
and art no limit to lis inventions.