The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-12-08
DOCTORS DISAGREE.
BUT THE EDUCATED ONES DO THE
BEST FOR THEIR PATIENTS.

BUT THE EDUCATED ONES DO THE
BEST FOR THEIR PATIENTS.
Tho Tito doctor" Not ALWAYS to
Ec Considered as Evidence That the
Wearcr Is Skilled Physiclan-A Case
of Typhoid Fever.
1t is a common saying that doctors lisa-
gree, etc One is constantly hearing that old
and thIcadbarc expression, the idea being
conveyed that it is only exceptionally that If
two or more arc called upon for an opinion
as to tho character of tho disease in anv
given case, or tho treatment demanded, they
are seldom in accord. Tho real fact is that
the reverse of tins is true-that what is ac-
ceptcd rs the rule is actually tho exception.
Doctors do occasionally disagree, but only in
exceptional cases. 1t must be remembered
that there are doctors and doctors. Some
are we'll educated and Others are but indif-
irrentlv so, and very large proportion
Throughout our country, and especially Mas
sncllusctts, arc absolutely ignorant even Of
til" first principles of medicine.
The title ''doctor" is generally supposed to
he ono which can only be acquired through
some college or university legally authorized
To confer it, Ii is also a common belief that
1T is invariablya sign that he who wears it
has been ''duy qualified and not found want
lnts, OF, i'll other words, that he has been
properly educated, and "life and limb can
be safely inirustel to his keeping. This is
truo in one respect, but far from the truth in
another. Tho titlo doctor belongs to him
only who has had it conferred upon him
after llo has spent years of stuly-workcd
for it and earned 1t. But in these days,
when prciiXcd to II llulnc it cannot be con-
si,lcrc' as evidence that tho wearer is Il man
skilled i'll the science OF medicine, nor does it
signify, even, that he has Il common school
ltalnns There are neither legal nor social
restrictions To tho liso of tho title, nor is
there excepting in two or three states in tho
unon, any law which restricts the practice
of medicine to those only who arc known to
he property educated. Any man or woman,
no matter how ignorant or dcpraved he or
slio is, has just us much right to assume tho
care of the sick or injured and practice of
medicine and surgery us ho who has spent
four years in continuous study at the IIar-
ward Medical college.
CASE OF TYPHOID.
Every druggist knows that lie is, for obvi-
on, reasons, singulary y aud unjustly liable to
lawsuits. ~ bare suspicion of an error on his
part Is sufficient basis for one, and i'll conse-
lucncc of Il single mistake his business may
bo ruined and the savings of years swept
away. Realizing this he is exceedingly care.
full himself, and is very certain not to allow
any one in his employ who is incompetent to
do anything which will jeopardize him. On
the other hand, Il man practicing as a ply
alci;ln, Yet not thoroughly familiar with the
workings of disease and the use of drugs is
always dangerous i'll tho extreme y few
drops too much Of this extract, II fraction of
IL gram of that powder, given to his patient
and the deadly work is done. But his awful
error is known only to himself. His ipatieat
dies, Tut 10 disease is attributed the cause 1t
is always easy for him to deceive the friends
of the unfortunate.
Take IL case of typhoid fever for instance.
In its early stage tho disease is seldom easy
of recognition 1t is, in fact almost always
moro on less difficult There arc then but
rarely 81 MS sufficiently markell to cnabo
even the most skillful physician to say with
| certainty that tho case before him is ono Of
typhoid. lIo notes this and that symptom,
here and there an indication, which lead him
To suspect that tho patient las that much
dreaded fever. But he must wait q dav or
| two before ho can decide. lIo must watch
tho rlso and fall of tho temperature, night
and morning that will tell him much for
| the nrintions are characteristic-the changes
| i'll tn" pulse, in the expression, in the tongue
in the appearance Of tho abdomen, etc Tho
symptoms Of typhoid are many. Some
which aro prominent in one case arc absent
IN others. With Il few only present ho can.
not judge, for they constitute tho bare out
lines; he must wait for the picture to tcvcl-
"p. But while waiting he is by no means
idle. In tho interests Of his patient llo is an
| ,icipntilig every exigcncy which is likely to
arise He takes no chances, but sees that in
nursing, etc, every precaution is instituted
which would be indicated in IL case of ty-
| phoid. His medicinal treatment is directed
| TO tho symptoms. Fever is kept down, pain
sllaycd, restlessness quieted, sleep produced
aud on. AT last he is sure of his diagnosis;
it is typhoid. But he has left nothing l,n-
dpno, there is nothing he would wish he
could undo. All along he has kept within
the safety lines.
Yet how different would have been tho
work Of an ignorant pretendcr-al incom-
pctent doctor" In % such cases out of 100
| he would liaro at once pronounced the pa
ticnt's disease bilious fever, and given
!urgc-which in most cases of typhoid would
prove iatal-ald death been tho direct con-
sequence But diurrhea is present in a very
| l,rgo number Of cases; that fact every per-
SON familiar with the disease knows. \
| ''dpctor'' Of the sort referred to does not tell
tho friends what medicine he gives. MOL
| His practice is shroudcd with mystery
io i, II medical Columbus. They have no
lea that he has administered Il purge, and
the appearance Of the diarrhea does not sur
prise item; 50 wien the patient dies they
Ii
Of tic doctors horrible mistake goes six feet
under ground.
a DIFFERENCE IN DETAILS.
Among true physicians, equally we'll ul~!i-
fed, thero is rarely in any given case Il diff
ference Of opinion, except it be in the most
| uninportant details. There are thousands
of drug, at the command Of physicians All
have their special favOrltes. Ono uses tho
bromide Of sodium as u nervinc, while an
| other prefers the bromide of potassium. In
very many instances it would matter little
which was given the patient; and yet. wcro
one doctor i'll favor of tho former to assume
his caro- after the other had been in attend-
aucc upon him, the chances arc that the i'll
conner would mako the trihing change. Tho
carpenter, the nacllinist, and, in fact all
tratesuen, arc welded to their own tools.
! To them they are old, tried fricnds-thcir
owners can get on better with them. So il
is with the physicians; drugs are, practi-
ctlly, tools in his hands. Ho knows,
from long experience, just how certain ones
will act; they have stood him in good stead
when battling with death at the bedside.
The tools of others may be newer, have n
little higher polish, be little more compli-
Gated, but lie prefers his own, for ho knows
what he can do with them.
Let tie people protect themselves and limit
the practice Of medicine and surgery, as they
have dentistry and pharmacy, to those who
stri.t it to one school" They should not
consider whether man who desires to prac-
tee medicine is a REGULAR" "homeopath'
OF an ''eclectic,' but they should know that
he can nerform tho duties Hhich ha wnlll