The Indianapolis journal., 1884-06-13
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Medical LEGISLATION.

To the Editor Of tho Indiana polls Journal:
We feel it to be our duty as a conscientious
practitioner of medicine, to congratulate the
medical profession of the State of Indiana, that
it.has so able and consistent an advocate of its
principle, as is furnished in the indianapolis
journal. If other lay organs throughout the
country would speak in the same tone, soon we
should not feel called upon to ask our legislators
to protect our people against charlatanism;
for the better education of the people would
eradicate these parasites of the medical profess
sion in a miraculously short time Everybody
must see that the only possible
source of relief from this evil charlatanism),
which so encumbers us in the State of Indiana,
and elsewhere, consists in the education of the
people, to an understanding of the merits and
dem ~ $ of the different classes of medical prac-
titioners who parade themselves before the coun-
try.
If the better educated and more honest class
of doctors, originate and attempt to uphold leg
islation upon this subject, it savors too much of
egotism and selfshness and if the object can
be effected, it is simply dead letter. because
the people are the law, and they deprecate most
sincerely, and L may say justly, any influence or
restriction which may limit them in selecting
one to care for the sick in their family Many
of the charlatans have personal merits,
their social attractions, their talent for business
iand the business aspect of the case | may say,
is all they have in view) and they cannot and
should not be annihilated from the medical
world, as by the breath of the cyclone. 1t would
be derogatory to the practices and privileges of
our country. But, by degrees, teach the people
through such organs as the Journal-organs as
nearly as possible outside the medical profession
that the medical profession is not only one
that requires talent but that it is also which
requires diligence perseverance, honor and the
undivided attention of him who fellows it. By
applying the latter test, the people will
most readily understand the difference
between the practitioner of medicine and
hood They must know the breadth, the
scope the grand mission of medicine in further
ing the interests ofhumanity; then they will log
ically look to honest source for authority, and
lend their assistance to the betterment OF the
practice We cannon reasonably expect them
to obtain their knowledge of legitimate medicine
from the pulpit from clinical organs for
many of the best doctors deal out but little the
ology at the bedside in their social intercourse
throughout their daily walk Neither can we
expect assistance from the bar or political forces.
repeat, then, that the lay papers. which have
such infinite influence in molding public thought.
should divest themselves of prejudice
against particular schools and ''pathies," and
give honest medicine all possible assistance that
it is worthy off.
All who have noticed the editorials of the
Journal touching medical subjects. within the
last year or two from a medical stand point,
have certainly been able to compliment the
author upon his worthy hits They certainly
have been timely infused with the latest and
best medical thought, and e mate from one who
is mindful of the needs of the profession aud
people at this day L. n DAVIS, NJ. d.
FARMLAND, Ind, June IL