The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-18

coveries; There is no better water sny-
where than ours T. l. SEE
Defense Of the Medical Professio2-
To the Editor OF the indianapolis Journal.
/ find in this mornings Journal an edi-
torial headed Medicine and Murder" IN
which you say: 1T Is somewhat remark
able that several shocking murders in re-
cent years have been committed by per-
sons with some special knowledge OF med1-
cine. either as medical students or DOCTORS"
l wish TO defend our profession from the
implied charge that there are more brutal
crimes perpetrated by physicians and medi-
cal students than by any other class OF
citizens, according 10 their number. You
will Please take into account that there are
a great many more physicians In every
community than there are OF other pro-
fessions. probably ten to one. and / deny
that there are more criminals In proportion
to number than that OF any other class OF
people.
Again. the recent crimes specified were
not done by physicians, but by students.
Many medical students never get into tho
profession; for as soon as their propensity
for crime is discovered. IL they do not i'm
mediately reform. they are dismissed. All
medical colleges require OF their graduates
proof. not only OF a good literary and SCI
entiiic education. but they must also pos
sess a good moral character. Physl1ano
are proud TO be able to say that the medi-
cal profession has always stood in the
very front rank OF all good and humans
tarlan EFFORTS. The great father OF the
profession, Hippocrates, required all who
would enter the medical profession to take
an oath TO live good. pure. honorable lives.
he calls the gods, who preside over
medicine, to witness the sincere desire he
has TO discharge exactly all the duties OF
his station. He expresses a warm and re-
spectful gratitude for him who taught him
the art OF physic. and declares that he
shall Always consider him as his father.
and his children as his own brothers. whom
he shall make IL his duty 10 assist upon all
occasions. both with his fortune and advice.
lie protests that. in the regimen which he
shall prescribe for the sick. he shall take
great care to consult what may be best for
them, and 10 avoid whatever may be to
their prejudice. He proposes TO himself the
leading of a pure and irreproachable life.
and not TO dishonor his profession by any
action worthy of blame. He protests that.
IL IN visiting his patients or otherwise. he
shall discover anything which ought to be
concealed, that he would never reveal II.
but will inviolably observe the sacred law
OF secrecy. And. lastly. he hopes, by his
punctua, attachment TO all these rules. that
he shall acquire the esteem OF posterity,
and consents TO forfeit the good opinion OF
the world forever IL he is so unfortunate
as TO depart from them"
This Bippocratic oath is now. and has
ever been, the very foundation OF the code
OF medical ethics. II is only those persons
who never had a regular training In the
medical profession that are guilty Of such
crimes.
1 have said that the profession. has slways
been in the front rank OF all good works.
There was a physician among the disciples
of our Lord. Luke. whom the apostle Paul
called the beloved physician" There
were no physicians connected with the
brutal Inquisition of the dark ages. There
was a noble physician, DIR. Benjamin Rush,
among the signers OF the Declaration of In
dependence. Physicians were not the per-
sons who, only a few years since, wero
tramping over the country trying TO prove
that slavery was according to the Bible.
and whose false mouths were only stopped
by the rebellion caused by that crime
against God and man. And when the traffic
In intoxicating drink tried to hide its
hideous form under the cloak of our pro,
medical societies of all schools have de-
clared hat intoxicating drink was not
who steal the livery OF heaven 10 serve
the devil in who proclaim themselves the
only great physicians. when they never had
any medical training whatever. These fell
lows go about deceiving the people and ex-
tortirg from them their hard-earned
money. L might retort that the publishers
of papers. knowing all these Statements OF
these charlatans to be preposterous lies, yet
give them a place in their columns, thus
assisting them in their nefarious work.
Publishers OF papers I'LL their columns with
the account of horrible crimes, thus famil-
iariZing the innocent minds OF youth with
all that is horrible and criminal
Vice is a creature of such hideous mien,
That, TO be hated, needs but 10 be seen
But seen loo oft, familiar with its face,
We nrst endure, then pity, then embrace"
Even the old heather painters denounced
the exposure OF the indecent and horrible
In painting and sculpture. Propertius says:
Whence rise these fanes to virgin modesty.
II every wife to everything is free?
Who first obscenity in colours drew,
In the chaste house. who placed IL first to
view,
| Defl'd the harmless maids ingenious eyes.
And would not leave her ignorant of Vice.
Noe to tine nan ian whose vicious peneh taught
Our fathers homes ne'er own'd these nox-
ious arts,
No crimes were painted on their walls or
hearts,"
]. T. BOYD.
indianapolis. Feb. II.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journals
/ think your criticism on the medical
| profession in to-day's paper is misleading
to the general public and unjust TO the
profession. After practicing over thirty
three years I am sorry to see 1t claimed
that there is anything degrading in the
study of medicine and surgery or that
tends to harden or brutalize the feelings"
Your special cases are exceptions TO the
general rule. and, in my opinion, prove
nothing, they being 50 few or so small a
per cent. i'm thousands OF murder cases
There is also no argument in the boarding.
house story. We read OF more tricks and
depredations among students OF other
schools and colleges than ours. / claim
that our calling has a tendency to make
a man humane, dispelling rather than cul-
tivating brutality. / suspect brain photog-
raphy will have TO be greatly advanced
before we can tell whether one should
study medicine, law or Journalism,
Upton, Ind. Feb. IL.