Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-20

| Among tHe many interests OF lie,
none are more important, and few
bear such essential relations to the
welfare of the individual and the COM
munity, as those existing between the
people and the physician. That the
medical profession is one of the most
honorable. as it is also one imposing
the highest obligations, is generally
conceded when the question Is brought
to the attention Of the public. But in
the hurry of life; and especially, until
personal or family needs, or great
calamity enforce a demand for the
care of the physician, do their depend
ance upon, ana necessity for skilled
knowledge of disease, or accident in
trude themselves upon the thought of
the laity
Even then it hardly occurs to great
many to consider carefully the reasons
why they send for DIR. A. or DIR. Il. in
preference 10 DR.. G. and if only a man
has advertised himself and is known as
doctor, he is accepted and credited
as qualified to meet the infinite re-
sponsibiity of determining disease and
its treatment. though the patient may
be the most loved on earth. While the
progressive men III .tIlt fIltulcal probes
sion are strenuOusly exerting them
selves To advance medicine to the rank
of an exact science, and are invoking
every aid that gives precision. not only
in determining diseases and their causes.
but with equal ardor to prevent it: the
public is too often culpablc in that they
encourage prctentious ignorance by not
demanding from those who ask their
patronage. truth fidelity and studious
application before they entrust them
with so important a service as attend
ing the sick or injured. 1t cannot he
gainsaid that these are highly essen
tial. though by no means all of the re-
quirements necessary to an intelligent
fulfillment of so high an office.
In no professionals there demanded
keener judgment. larger grasp and
educated capacity than in that of med
icine. In none is there a demand for
higher cultivation of mind and morals
than obtained in this sacred work.
There are none which embrace more of
the collateral sciences, or exact greater
devotion of its votaries if they are to
fulfil their duties and obligations
toward the individual and society If
we look specifically into what con-
stitutes a suitable preparation for
physician. and what is now demanded
in our medical training schools before
one can obtain his degree in medicine:
it will enable us better to apply the
guage to what is regarded as standard
measure. First. a proper preliminary
education embracing such branches as
the higher English; n fair knowledge
.,c,b H.. toll 7
try, botany and biology. At Harvard
one must first get his A. Z. degree be-
fore he can matriculate as medical
student. 1t may be argued that such
requirements are too sweeping in eX-
emption. and that there are those. who.
with less preparation have a natural
aptitude for medicine and surgery. and
that, coupled with superior judgment
and fair training. excel even those with
more theory and less brains. Granting
this to be true. it is no argument
against the general proposition that
broader culture would give greater
ability even in this class; while it only
emphasizes the greater necessity of
holding those of mediocre capacity to
the higher standard so as to produce
the best possible from such material
as elect to practice medicine and sur
gerry. In medicine. as in every depart
ment of business. there are the same
variations in mentality. and as few
who by nature and requirements are
successes in the full sense of the term.
Because n doctor obtains 4 competence
by the practice of medicine. ii does not
always follow that he possessed superior
qualifications for his chosen work. The
writer has known of instances where the
mcrest tyro in the profession has accu-
mulated property, but whose merit, as
proven in many instances by cruel results
told the sad story of misplaced conf
dence. Bluster, lies in printers ink
cured the victims. and lack of thought
and blind trust produced the cripples. An
NJ. ID. advertised that he visited one
hundred patients in n single day: another
that he made 90 visits and attended 81
| office patients. and strange to say. many
swallowed the outrageous lies, repeating
them in wonder without stopping to think
| of the time consumed in going from house
to house and the required time each pa
tient must receive for proper examina
ton. prescription writing or preparation
of medicine with necessary directions a
to diet. care. etc. Annanias and his esti-
mable spouse We're novices i'm the art o1
living compared with these followers of
F,sculapius But fortunately such repre-
sent but a small minority whose chief
aim is to secure money, founded on
fraud and sustained by human credulity.
Ultimately the multiplied bunders of
such reveal the charatan character of
these vampires. That such are few as
compared with the large number of hon
est. well trained. hard. careful. conscien
tious workers whose real modesty con-
; ccal high merit is Il matter for congrat-
lation.
If the laitv would bestow little more
thought upon this subject and inform
themselves as to what has been accom-
plished and what is daily being done for
the prevention of disease, and the amel-
, ioration of the sad condition of the I'M
fortunate, they would find that no class
make so many sacrifices, endure such
ha rdships and encounter many dan
gers as are met by doctors in investiga-
ton and experiment. 1t is now common
Knowledge that most of the diseases af-
fecting man and animals are due to mi
cro-organismS called bacteria. but few
realize the danger involved oftentimes in
the study necessary to learn the avenues
by which they enter the body. and the
results produced upon the fluids and
ever tissue in the anatomy: their mode of
propagation and discrimination in and out
of the system.
Docs the general public realize that tho
| best talent of the medical profession i
ever on guard and that throughout the
| civilized world they are the sentinels set
| by the governments to watch and warn
| the people of present or advancing dan
ger. Yet this is true to the letter and
i to their attainments. constant care and
fidelity : dine the large increase in hui