The morning call., 1893-05-28


The future of anyf art or science Is related
casually to its iast much more closely tn is
usually supposed Excent in instances where
some great discovery has been made. the
growth of these, like other developments In
knowledge, is in The nature Of an voution.
and in nearly every instance the discovery
even Is the natural sequence Of processes lead
ing very plainly up 10 II. For this reason any
Vaccination concerning mrdicine IN California
must be largely based upOn its history. Fol
lowing this, It's botany, medicinal springs ana
climate have all 10 be taken into. con sderation.
The early history of medicine in this State has
its lights and sh d s. The medical men, in
common with other argonauts, were seek iug
the golden fleece. and few came with the origi
nal Intention of practicing their profession.
Later, or course, this was not he case, but
win most of the first-comers The motive was 10
acquire wealth by the easiesl and most speedy
method. This was not an attitude of mind
favorable to that careful research and pains
taking investigation by means o which prog
ress In any branch of scientific Inquiry alone is
assured. On be other hand it must be ad-
mtted that the splendid energy and push of
these men atoned 10 great extent for their
other disadv ages; much so hat the Cali
fofniau practitioner stood even then as he does
Today fairly abreast of the most advanced
teaching of the times.
Yet this early taint of the desire for hasty
riches has LETT its impress 100 plainly 20 be
ignored IN any attempt TO forecast the future of
medicine In this State. I he advancement of
sclen ific knowledge is still epir ly secondary
to the requirement of wealth or position In
many instances. An immense practice. sumpt-
uous office crowded with patients and large
lncom- the efrom is still the ideal of success
with almost all our physicians. Even the
wealthier ones seldom or never take advantage
OF The oppor unity afforded them TO enter
upon the study OF the science of medicine un-
disturbed by its practice, but rush as eagerly
after patients and fees as though medical re-
nown were obtainable in no other way They
lose sight OF the fact that the names most hon
ored in medicine amung living men are lhosr
VINO seldom or never see patient, aud who
by devollng their lives 10 the modern methods
of biological and chemic Il Investigation in the
laboratory have render ed The world and their
medical brethren thousand times better T.
vice than II they had entered into the hurry and
whitlof competitive practice.
With such aDtece tents it is scarce matter for
wonder that medicine in California has not con-
tribu ed It's proper quota o the general ad-
vaneement of the science, nor will 1t do so until
the higher motive obtains fuller recognition
1t Is enccu aging. howev r, to note that the
last decade mas witnessed more original re-
search by far than any similar period in he
paSt. Luis Is SuoWu III Lue 0unlDer OF medical
works by Californian authors which have been
published duiiGg his time. Medical journals.
and fairly good ones. we have long had; but
Journalism Is only a transient record too dis
connected and discursiVe 10 be of much per-
manent value. With a book the case is, or
ought TO be different, for it is written to place
facts which are the oul come of actual experi-
ence or study upon permanent record so lha,
they may become available for future students
m 4 IL - n
MIA authors have fully reached The high stand
ard just Indicated, notably in the iudy of our
mineral springs. by DR.. Ninslow Anderson and
III The works OF Drs. McNult and ABB ans, upon
Speclaliies in medicine.
There is one futther impeachment TO medical
progress which must be noIic-d. This Is the
lax code OF ethics which obtains among medi-
cal men, especially In San Francisco. Ii is also
relic OF aigonaut times, growing out OF the
indep ndence of the usual restraints of an
ethical nature among the earlier pracri ioners
II has led 10 a lack Of bro rlDess and solidar-
iy among medical men which prevents the on-
from proftlng by the experience of The whole
to that extent which would best advance the
Interests of the science of medicine. Nor is
that fine sense OF honor and Justice which
ought TO be The ideal of every physician dulled
In their intercourse with each other alone. bur
also In their relations with the public. AS n-
|
would 'lay eciures"-a notorious quack
method OF advertslne-be practiced by por-
ION OF the profession nor tolerated by the rest.
A perfect sense of honor and piobry, Also
would prohibit the receiving of additional
! secret fee from ratient under the guse OF a
commission" from a druggist, instances of
which may still be found among men who
would Indignantly repel any insinuatonof dis
honesty against their character.
This may be SAID to cOmDete The tale of dis
| advantages unGer which medicine in California
| labors and which ii must overcome. IL Is re-
| lief and pie sur 10 take up its advantages
| These are numerous. The spirit of adventure
| OF Investigation and boldneSs left as an heir
| loom by oul medical pioneers is an active force
| to-day and VIII neyrr permit stagnaIlon IN the
| future. Aside from his each portion of the en-
| tire civilized world has sent US as representa-
tIves its bel aud brlghi est practitioners. Eng
| land, France, Germany italy-aIl countries
have con ribuied 10 our medical population,
each representative bringing to The common
stock the teaching and practice of nj. nation
This is an incompatible advantage and
stimulation TO progress. 1t does away
with the necessity an Isolated practi-
| tinner would experience of having to visit the
different cent rs of medical knowledge in order
10 learn their methods, pecialy in technique
and practical detail, for all illus rat d here
In san Francisco particularly anv physician
can quickly gl an the best from a dozen me h.
ods of practice and have bis own treatment OF
diseases constantly checked and corr &c ed by
that of 9th thyslcI rs. Ruts and routine be-
come Impossible. aud Il healthy stimulus is thus
at all times Infused into both theory aud pr c.
tice.
The topography of California Is most favor
able to he scientific study or The relation OF
disease from lie standpoint Of both curative
and proven i've medicine. All drgre-s OF drv-
ness o. OF humidity. of l1gh or OF low Temp ra-
tnre, OF depression or OF elevation. are TO be
found within our State ltnes Tae coast line,
and pa ticuIary II the coast range OF noun
tans b included Ia shIs division, of rs everv
vaI iety, from warm to very cold humidity
while the Int rtor valleys ahd al alne plains
present every desirable degree of dryness so
favorable TO the aneIiotatton OF cure OF certain
pulmonary and other conditions. SaIubrinus
attitudes range from a cnn siderable distance
beiew the level OF The sea To any desired
height, even 10 1000 or i0, 900 feet above itlis
level. Temperatures range from The sent
tropical herm"metiy of our sunny orange
growing sontD 10 the almost perretuil SHOWS OF
our elevated mountain niaieaus. In short. dry