The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-02-09
A PROGRESSION IN MEDICINE.

human learning whose progress is of para
mount Importance to the race, and whose
successive stages of growth are. or ought 10
be, watched with interest by us all, it is the
science of medicine. Until within few
years past improvement therein has been
very slow, and We are yet, beyond doubt,
only upon the threshold of the secrets OF
curative and remedial nature. The exclu'
siyeness of the profession upon whom We
have to depend in disease. their proyerbial
jealousy and the disposition to disregard
any and all non-professional theories and
suggestions have in the past been product
i've Of much that has contributed tC
keep the science at standstill
All this, we are glad to note, is pass
lug rapidly away. Like every other practi
toner, IN whatever department of study oil
action, the physician is beginning to recog
nize the fact that his conclusions in a given
case are the more apt to be sound the more
extended his research, associations, consul
tions and general knowledge Of, and contact
with, the outside or n-professional world
In other words, the more comprehensive
his information and the more extended his
experience and association, the better
physician. As there are various systems o.
of medicine, so there must be some goot
in all. A system Internationally, abso
lutely and wholly vicious could no
for any length of time recon-
| mend itself to even semi.barbarians
Wisdom would dictate therefore tina
the practitioner of medicine should not
with an unyielding obstinancy refuse to ad
NIT that there is anything but humbugger,
aud fraud In other systems than his own
Whatever will best and quickest cure is til,
| thing to be used, the course TO be pursued
! Consultation, therefore, is as likely 10 sug
gest a new thought, a different treatment
additional intelligence to physician, a
suggestions universally do to other ciasse
OF men. 1t is, therefore, but the conclu
| sion of common sense that such consulta
tons with whatever character Of men o
practitioners, should be from a standpoint
OF professional ethics, not only permi4sibl,
and Tree, but eminenty proper. But jus
| upon this point, strange to relate, a battl,
| had TO be fought in the medical profession
1t has resulted, however, in victory fo
| common sense and progress. At themeet
ing of the College Of Physicians and Sur
geons in New York, recently, the advanced
step, taken in the direction indicated las
year. was strongly reafiirmed. We quot,
| from the New York Mail and Express tn,
following information relative to the meet
ing and matter reier,ed to: "By vote D
l47 to 60, the most influential medic"l OF
ganization in America, the New Yorl
County Medical society, has reatfirmed thu
new code of medical ethics as embodied
in the following rule, adopted Feb
ruary, 1889: Members of the Med
ical society OF the state of New
York, and Of the medical societies il
afiiliation Herewith, may meet in consul
tation legally qualified practitioners o
medicine. Emergencies may occur in which
all restrictions should, III the Judgment o
the practitioner, yield to the demands o
humanity The advocates of The new codt
deny that they are more friendly TO the sys
ten Of HAHNgMANN than formerly, bu
they believe that every ailopathic physician
should be free to consult with pracli
tioncr Of the homeopathic school, as DG
QuAINs did with On. KIDD at the bedside o
LORD BEAcONsFtELD. DR.. FORDYcE BARKER
Quo Of the most earnest adyocatespf the new
code, iiercely resents the insinuation tina
the motive of those who urge, free consul ia
tions is to increase their receipts from com
sci lees The new code is established at TIT
demand ofhumanity, and its triumph n
the Coll eye Of Physicians and Surgeon,
last evening will be historic mark of pro
gress.