The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-15
IGNORANCE OF MEDICINE.
Tho sursst Way to Eradicate Quackery.
nmuIct. aud 'IpfaiIilie" Remedies.

AmuIcts and "IpfaiIibio" Remedies.
The frs. step in education is convic-
ton Of our ignorance. This is especially
true in medicine. So long as men had
perfect faith in charms there was no use
to teach them hygiene. OF what use
was chemistry when alchemy was IN
general favorl A distinguished medical
writer said years ago that the only way
10 eradicate quackery permanently was
by teaching physiology and anatomy IN
the schools. because quackery was not
founded ON the shrewdncss of its profess
sors. but the ignorance of its victims.
Yet il il surprising how much OF that
old time ignorance which made witch
craft possible and profitable yet ex-
lists. Dr. Fordyce Barker. while at
tending Mr.. Conxling, was constantly
annoyed by worthy people who wanted
him to try some ridiculous nostrum on
his distinguished patient They were OF
exactly the same class az that very re-
spectacle gentleman who carries about a
small potato or an onion in his pocket TO
ward Off rheumatism lie does not be-
lieve in signs. nor omens, nor isms, but
how does he differ from the poor darky
who carries about rabbit foot in his
pocket to shield him from the evil eye!
He smiles deprecatngy, but carries the
potato and assures you coniidentlaily
that, however it may be, in his partlcu-
lar case it has worked wonders. The
miserable wretch who killed an moi
fensive Chinaman the other day 'for
fun" was more anxious 10 keep an anu
let he had IN his pocket than his liberty,
and he reasoned about as well as the
man who carries a potato in his pocket,
but not a particle OF the knowledge OF
the laws Of life and health in his head.
The public discussion of the Affections
Of Garfield. Grant. Conkling and Kaiser
Frederick have done much good by I'M
covering vast amount OF popular ignor-
anCe even where it was not suspected.
IL showed that many who were ready to
cure all diseases i'm the body polite did
not know the first symptom OF disease IN
their own bodies Men with their fingers
always on the public pulse did not know
where 10 feel for their own pulse. Men
cOnversant with all other history knew
absolutely nothing of the history of medl-
cine Men able 10 trace the cause OF
political commissions never were able TO
account for that first stroke of paralysis.
Such men were sure they could have
cured Mr.. Conkling's disease by the
steam of a hot potato. They knew that
Garfield could have been saved if they
had been given cha~,e OF him IN time,
though tine post mortem proved that his
wound was fatal from the first. The
number Of infallibIe remedies sent TO
Gen Grant was legion. Half of the Old
women in Germany are seriously grieved
because they are not allowed to save the
kaiser from his doctors by remedy that
came down to them from their great
erandmOthers.
All Of this proves that so far "a medi-
cine is concerned we are in the middle
ages yet No proper provision Is made
IN schools for the prevention Of quackery
as begins to be made for the prevention
If intemperance by teaching the effects
Of alcohol. Many graduate is not ex
actly clear as to which side his heart is
on. OF what it is there for. When II
comes TO the spleen, the colon, the nerves,
he better understands the geography of
interior Africa.
The science of medicine advances I'M
der difficulties. the greatest Of which is
popular ignorance When we learn to
know how little we know then we will
commence to advance. Then fairly edu-
Gated men will not commence to prescribe
for a friend and sugges, doubts as to his
physician before knowing anything moro
Of the disease than Of the doctor. No
greater boon could be bestowed on the
coming doctor than a generation thor
ougbly educated in physiology, anatomy
and hygiene We wil never be rid Of
luacts and quackery until we stop breed
ng the one and encouraging the other
10y turning over the whole subject Of dis
ease as of old, to a special class, whether
sorcerers or doctors. Chicago Times.