The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-08-22
Quncks and Regulars.

~ TIC L<ultOI W INC ludldhdpOiio 4
In rebuttal of a letter published in to-
days Journal. by Citizen" entitled
'.Quackery. Indeed" /. as a practicing ply
stefan of the regular" or allopathic school
of medicine, would like to record a few
words Of protest. While 1t is quite true that
the duck was the ancient Egyptian hero
glyphic designating a physician. it was not
used In a sense of ridicule or mockery; the
meaning Of the sign has become converted.
and the expression "quack" has become one
of scorn and contempt. never used in ref
erence to a legitimate practitioner. The now
commonly accepted definition of the term
"quack." as applied to the medical profess
sion, Is construed by all ethical physicians,
no matter of what school," to mean a
person who, verbally or by published adj
vertisement, absolutely guarantees to cure
a disease or diseases; as, for example, the
curing of a person in the last stages of pull
monary tuberculosis, or the removal of
large tumors without the aid OF a knife"
In a nutshell, a "Quack" is one who abSo-
lutely guarantees to cure an ailment which
the experience and study OF others nave
shown to be incurable. or TO cure a dis
ease by a procedure which is impossible.
The science Of medicine is not an exact
one and no physician can be sure of curing
anything, not even a bruised finger, and the
person who guarantees to cure is a quack.
When our friend "A Citizen" claims that
the allopaths, homeopathic. e~clectics and
physio-medics are continually fighting each
other he is correct. but they are not doing
IT for the reasons he claimS-that is, that
a member OF one school claims that his
all the others are altogether wrong. This
IS an entirely erroneous idea; the members
of the different schools are fighting each
other In the interest OF the advancement
of medical science. Each school of teach
Ing finds much to admire and respect in the
other schools and even finds 1t wise at times
20 anfnlv N Of tho foanhfn0G Of annnn
OF the other schools. They do not claim
that their school is the only right one, but
method OF curing. All the different schools
mentioned work on the same principle:
Firstly, the diagnosis OF disease by symp-
TOMS etc; 10 reae on rn gs cause; "a and second
the cause.
As to physicians of different schools con-
sulting with one another, this occurs far
more frequently than our wise friend seems
10 know or has taken the time or, trouble
TO inquire about. Doctors of the different
schools will agree on the cause and symp-
toms OF a given disease as quickly as two
doctors OF the same school. but they may
disagree oil the specific drugs to be used
IN combating IL. But. no matter what drugs
either one OF them uses. IL will be for the
same reason and to gain the same desired
effect. There are some exceptions to this.
but they are so rare as TO make good the
ole ~proverb. exceptions prove the rule"
In reference to the attack on the state
board. 1 think "A Citizens" argument
too himsy to spend much time on. But let
me ask him that. following out his idea,
any Tom. Dick OF Harry were allowed TO
hang out a shingle and make a bid for
medical practice. without any regard as
TO his qualifications for so doing. he were
TO become seriously Ill and send for a
doctor" who perhaps but a day or week
before had given up a job as street cleaner
or some similar occupation. would he not
be one OF the first to seek redress in the
courts or In some other way for profess
sioual ineficiency? II Is for this reason, to
prevent persons not possessed of the proper
knowledge from practicing medicine, that
the medical law and medical board are in
force.
AS far as giving persons who cure by the
newer methods a right TO practice, I will
let the unbiased and Intelligent person be
tie judge. after reading the papers day aft
Or day. and noting the innumerable deaths
and endless misery caused by these new
er methods OF curing disease" whether
their promoters have any right TO pose as
healers OF the sick. A DOCTOR.
Indianapolis, Aug. q.