The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-10-12
A Doctors Plea,

valuable paper and was amused by
his simple and yet forcible comment
on the promise to pay. That's all
right would be all right if it kept
the editor, physician, ''the butcher,
the baker and candlestick maker
moving, but since il buys neither
food nor raiment it is unsatisfactory.
| am sorry that so many people are
inclined to regard this with so much
indifference. Ihaye often heard the
remark, II should pay my paper,
but there is no hurry, the editor can
send mine along with the rest and
don't mind it" The editor, how
ever, is not alone in this respect. !
have likewise heard the remark,
This trip or this medicine costs the
doctor little or nothing aud he can
wait Being a physician by pro-
fession aud practice, / was, Of
course, most interested in that part
of your letter which dwelt directly
upon the followers of Aesculapius.
Our profession seems TO have few
rights which, any, in modern times,
feel obliged TO respect. Que right,
that educated true conscientious,
self.sacrihcing, medical men should
have, is the right Of protection
against bastard competition. He
who has invested his time, labor,
means and prime of youth, in ac-
quiring knowledge to fit him for a
high and responsible calling, is com
PEELED to encounter the competition
Of those who have neither invested
time, money or labor in the pursuit
of medical or any other knowledge.
Another right which is tramplc aa
der foot is that co demand ice Il
the witness stand. The doctor is
summoned as a medical witness and
put on the stand. He is asked what
he thinks and not what be knows.
His opinion is therefore eytorted
from him under penalty for refusal.
He is. in no sense a witness for the
| latter testities 10 tacts-what he
knows. II an ordinary witness
dares TO say, Il think. 1T Is may
opinion he is Immediately stopped,
and told his opinion il not wanted
that he is put there TO tell Just what
he knows, but the physician is com
PEELED to give an opinion in mat,
ter of no moment 10 him but OF
much 20 somebody else and is sub.
Iected 70 the CALLING cross-eXamlna
ton of some insolent, upstart attor
ney he is taken from his office
practice, detained at court for days
is paid, If anything, one dollar Il day
and called witness.
The physician himself only Gun
appreciate what physician il, ana
what he should be, and what his
life is. He can realize, as none 9th
er can, that there is no other pro.
fession, no avocation of hfe, save
that alone which deals with man s
eternal and immortal interests
which embodies in its nature sC
much good, usefulness and 50 much
that is honorable rs the science ano
practice of medicine. By the lone
couch of suffering, in the still hom
of night, when the world sees not
and hears not, stands he rs a last
hope with the tears, the sorrows
the anxieties, the gratitude Of help
less ones and his crown is sanchfed
yet the world knows not theso
things.
In addition to those who are nj
lowed to continue the practice o.
medicine on authority Of experience
prior to the recent and more uggil
laws, we have the hOmeopath, the
hydhopath, the all-path, uo.path an,
every other path-with-pay swelling
out with How -we-applos-do-swim
Then we have another tho pure
genuine "quack, who knows he's {
quack and don't deny it hoporhapt
is least contemplate and most TO
spected. Finally we have tho SO
called, faith doctor but wher,
the faith comes in, l. have thus la
failed TO see. He will commence a
the crown Of tho head an,
rubbing down, down, down un
til he gets the demon concontrat
ed to the great toe, then no "con
lures him out, L suppose, on am
putates the toe aud dupes his dozen
for a dollar a day each and drives
thriving business at tho rubbing
on rubber trade"
AEscULAPIUs