The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-01-15
THE DOCTORS WHO PHYs1U US.

There ought to be no hesitation in
the minds of any of cur Lawmakers
about providing for the elevation OF
the standard Of practicing physicians.
1t is bad enough when physicked by
competent doctor, but to have "a quack
showing nostrums into the poor dis
eased body is horrid to think of,lnd yet
thei law of Texas is such as does not pre-
tect aginst what could often be term
ed, in this relation, licensed destruc-
ton of health, even murder. We have
heretofore referred to the fact, that
BILLS to be presented to the nineteenth
legislature, regulating the practice
Of medicine, which will elevate the
standard of medical practitioners; and
this bill, having the endorsement Of
competent doctors, even OF the State
Medical Association, ought to be made
law. There are evils enough al
ready at the bottom OF q system that
does not come up to the proper standard
and any move in the direction of i'm
pEovement ought to meet the hearty
approval of lawmakers. Let us have
doctors as good as they are made by
the sort of machines now turning
them out. These do not come up to
the proper standard, for in the United
States there has been in vogue
an easy method by which
doctors are made. Two years at
medical college is absurd in this rela-
ton, but it is the rule, and there is no
higher requirement. Touching this
question famous Philadelphia doc
tor lately said, that unless the period
of medical education be made longer
heidi notapproyet the establishment of
courses upon specialties, and added: at
is true that modern practice leads to
more and more specialization, but, un-
less we insist that the specialist shall
have the broadcast general education his
value as specialist is greatly endan-
gered, and l cannot neip IeGing that
if students were to be encouraged at,
an early period of their course as be-
ing engaged in fitting themselves for
this or that speciality, the tendency to
concentrate their attention upon it, to
the serious neglect of the necessary
elementary branches, would be
insuperable." This is true, and it is
true in all other professions as well as
medicine. 1t is applicable to every
profession and business, in art and in
every branch of science. Uneducated
men-uneducated even in the line
they profess to follow dash out as
specialists in some small branch of
that line. Study of theseye, the ear,
the foot, the teeth, without reference
to the physiology of the body of
which they form a part, has given US
oeulists and aurists, orthopedists and
dentists, who are the disgrace, OF their
specialties, who fleece the public and
bring discredit even on those who
are properly qualified. A specialist
who has reached a high level in his
profession before he specializes has
mounted higher by specializing, but
he who specializes from the bottom
fails to rise. To take comparison
from nature. he is TO the properly ed
ucated specialist what boy is to an
intellectual man. Yet, as specialists,
and properly trained specialisJs, are a
necessity, would it notIbe v nSx-
tend the time to be devote
cad studies? Two years is
three years is too short
study to qualify an ordinary -
practice for ordinary complaints, and
two years more should be added be