The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-12

The eminent D.. Maury, OF this city,
in a lecture Introductory to a series
which he is to deliver before the pu-
pills of the Memphis Hospital Medical
College, and published in The Missis-
sippi Valley Medical Monthly, traces the
history of gynecology in language so
free from confusing scientifc meta
phor that any layman may read it with
interest aud profit. 1t is well written
and carefully prepared chapter of
medical history, creditable to the great
surgeons whose genius has brought a
wholesome relief to suffering womsn.
But running through it there is a
thread of sadness. The poison that
lies ever in the way of him who
strives and is most often pressed
to his lips by the dulisrd, hedged
about perhaps by "ethics," is not even
hinted at, but the man Of common
sense will not be slow thus to account
for the laQgard steps with which at
last the profession has reached ration
al, simple and yet heroic remedies for
diseases that lie at the very basis Of
life. DR.. Maury in tracing in sequent
order the discoveries tina. in our own
day have eyentuated in such triumph ;
of skill, dwells with becoming pride
upon each achievement and links his
word Of praise with the names that
have made this special branch Of
the science he puIsues the greatest Of
al the benefactions of the age
But he preserved for the close
the name of the illustrious
Marion Sims as that Of the master
genius who made the way easy for
his contemporaries and those who fol-
low after him. Andsingularly enough
this name, about which there hinges
80 much of personal charm, comes
again before the medical fraternity OF
Memphis juet at tins when an un-
seemly wrangle over mere "ethics" by
the Tri-S.a Q Medical Society is brought
to the attention OF the general public
by the APPEAL, ethics that are of.en
hindrance to medical advancement,
that too often restrain the man who
is growing so that his professional
stature may not reach beyond the
dullest mediocrity. Poor Sine. Who
that reads Of his struggles, and the
contemplate, mean and belittling
jealousies that beset him would
not wish that he had dsfied
all ethics and rather launched himself
upon the favoring sea of public opin-
ion. How much he would have
saved himself Of chagrin and mortif-
cation, and how much more quickly
would he have accomplished his
philanthroplc purpose of relieving
Suffering women? The world has
a right TO the best effots Of
every man in it, and it is
only less than criminal by COM
bination, or otherwise, to restrain or
prohibit, retsrd or hinder, those who
are the eager ministers OF the genii,
who hold the secrets of the fu ure.
Why should a doctor withhold from
the public his invention or discovery
any more than the metallurgist,
the mineralogist, the chemist,
the electrician or the en-
eineer3 What sort Of ethics is 1t that
interferes to make hidden mystery of
remedies that affect both health and
life7 Are they not contrary to this
age OF free inquiry Do they not
shame the spirit of Investigation that
led Sims, Barker, Mcdowell,
Thomas and Emmett, Of this
country, and Simpson, Wells,
TAFT and Keith, OF Great Britain,
out Of the beaten path and lighted
them to sUrer ways of cure2 The
APPEAL would be far from coun-
tenancing anything that would weak
en- q profession to which the world is
so largely indebted. The safety
of the people demands that It
shall, in common with the
homeopathists, the eclectics and
other medical bodies, be surrounded
by Legal safeguards but it should re-
peal its ethics and broaden and
smooth the path OF those whose keener
vision and more penetrating insight
enables them to reach conclusions full
OF benefeence and blessing to suffer-
ing humanity. A good thing
in medicine or surgery cannot
be too quickly or too often brought 10
the attention OF the public, and instead
Of censure, the doctor who is first be-
fore the great tribunal with q discovery
or invention should be encouraged
with the worlds applause.