Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-11

Chicago court has just made a decision cover
Ing a very interesting and important point. A
certain physician who came TO that city some time
ago advertised In the newspapers his ability 10
cope with special diseases. and the state board OF
health revoked the certificate emitting him to
practice. He promptly sued the board, and has
Just won his case.
IL would be good thing II this decision could he
male the basis OF reform In the methods OF the
medical fraternity generally. Tue idea that a man
who knows something ot value 10 humanity which
his hbOr does not know fulhls his highest duty
by keeping silence about IL was exploded long ago.
The man who does most to publish his discoveries
10 the world Is esteemed a benefactor. Ther Is
no reason why this rule should not hold good In
side or the medical profession well as outside OF
n. Medicine has not yet reached such a stage rs
an exact science that there Is nothing for its
doctors 10 learn On the contrary, It's practice Is
still almost wholly experimental; and a man who
has a new and practical idea 10 put fortn or re-
suits OF efforts OF his own TO make known, ought
10 be welcomed and encouraged, rather than
elbowed out OF the way.
TAe answer conservative physIctans will make
TO this Is easy TO foresee. They will say that the
only means they have OF distinguishing the reyu-
lar members OF the fraternity from Quacks Is to
draw the line at advertising. But this Is q weak
plea There IL nothing inherently bad in an ad-
Vertisement- II indicates energy and enterprise,
traits which ought to be found In tn. PHYSICIANS
Character as truly as In the merchants or the
manufactures. The distinction Is arbitrary, and
wholly unfOunded In nature. The same power
that created 1t can expunge it again. There are,
moreover, other and more effective barriers against
q1ackery than the prohibition OF advertising III
all physicians were permitted 20 advertise their
specisties. that would not prevent every local
medical society from appointing a committee TO
Investigate suspected frauds, and prosecute them
SrfWr4 .NfwrCV
signatures.
In these, and in other ways which will readily
occur % the mind, the better class Of physicians
could have ample protection against their nl-epn-
cetei brethren without violating any sentiment
az self respect There ought 20 D. no false pride
about this matter. The dignity which l. not sac
ri1ced by sending ia a bill monthly or quarterly
f1r Services rendered in the noble art OF beaIIny
VIII not be severely strained b. advertising what
In offered the public IA exchange for their money
- "
Wnen Mr.. Serbia was relieved Of the ONCE OF
bank examiner In New YORK city which he had
held for many years. and Secretary Mannings
young protege, Mr.. Synder. was appointed 10 hi,
place there was good deal OF complaint, In quar-
ters unfriendly TO the administration at what was
termed an exhibition OF offensive parttsanship and
oncial fayoritism. One Of Mr. Synier's tfrst acts
however. was 20 unearth Transaction OF o. ID.
Baldwin, the president OF the Fourth National
Bank, Who for the sake Ofkeeplng I'D appearances
was carrying some eight hundred thousand dol
lars Of sec ured loans cash. and certifying 10 the
Integrity OF the banks reserves as required by
law, while twenty per cent Of them was not
money or currency OF any sort. The exposure OF
this fraud has called forth many expressions OF
sympathy and regret from the nnanc.ers who
nave known Mr.. Baldwin and associated init
hiateD Win him for years, some OF which are 50
eouched as 70 warrant suspicion that his fault Is
not 20 uncommon among ban .ers as it ought To
De- As matter OF fact no harm was done By the
s9ostitutioa, and none was likely TO result: but
ny. BALDWIN violated the law and made mlsrepre-
sentatlOns which are themselves without excuSe
II this Kind Of business has been going on under
MI serbia without detection, IL Is fortunate that
new nan has taken his place