The Progress., 1893-05-13
THE PHYSICIANS POSITION.

lze the full import OF the position of
physician whose services has been
solicited. 1t is an extremely import
ant one, whether asked to simply pre-
scribe for small ailment, or called
III to administer to one confined to
the bed with serious illness. In either
event, from physical standpoint, the
patient places all he has under the
guardianship of the doctor For this
reason the greatest care should be ex-
ercised by the one placing himself
under treatment.
The object of this is not to caution
people to consult and employ only
physicians Of skill and experience,
becaule that is something that all in
their right minds are supposed to do,
but this is an attempt to guard our
readers against the employment of
those who are addicted to habits
which are debilitating to mind, body
and we may as well add soul, and was
brought forth by the statement to us
that three doctors of Shreveport were
cocaine users. We do not know their
names, they We're not asked for, were
not given. 1t may be mistake, We
slnr'erely hope that it is, but whether
true or not the force of the argument
remains the same. No doctor who
drinks to excess, none who use NOR
phine or cocaine are competent to
successfully manage the important
charge which is committed to them
when their professional services are
, employed. Whether their skill saves
= the life of their patients or not, it TIC
often happens that their favoritt
drug, liquor, morphine or cocaine has
r been given so often that the patien
T. himself, though apparently restored
g to health, has acquired such an ap
> petite for the subtle medicines, tha
he becomes confirmed victim tC
/ their influence.
J. There seems to be greater danger
|; however, from those who suffer from
periodical attacks of neuralgia, head
ache, or any local disorder whicl
= would Of themselves cease in a shor
g while, but the sufferer seeking imme
diate relief calls in one of these ply
O sician, who, alas, having his sensibili
r ties and conscience deadened by tn
g influence of the drug he has use'
J, with pleasing effect for so long, reall
. unconscious of the great wrong be
: cause his mind has become dwarfe
on the subject, administers cocain
% which now seems to be the most cur
!, ming debilitating and dangerous {
# all anesthetics and, of course, the pal
d. ceases to have effect and the patier
le is pleased thereby. The attack
II come again at their regular interval
" the same remedy is applied. Thi
t. continues until the patient learns
s. love the effect of the drug, feels III
G. comfortable and unstrung withor
- - and, of course, the sequel is plain, b
tv becomes confirmed cocaine use
2, Shreveport has not lacked for el
IS amples of this kind, all brougl
~ u, about by applying to physicians wi
n. were victims Of the drug. 1t is al:
g, only too true that many drunkar
he and morphine user has been made t
:, the careless administering of I'll
~ ~ medicines to patients by doctors wi
a. were not addicted TO the habit then
lg selves. And any physician Of stan'
b. ing, or one with common reasonin
powers, who will think, knows that
p is perfectly natural for the doct'
. who takes cocaine to use it in b
= practice because it is natural for hi
Us to prescribe that which he imagin,
81 is so beneficial to himself, his mil
not being strong enough to comb
the sophistry of the cunning al
=" powerful drug.