The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-10-04

able TO diagnose every case, and # they
did not feel called upon - prescribe for
every individual. It is related Of Dr.
John Alternately, famous London ply
sician, that a lady once came to him and
complained Of what might be called
that complication Of troubles--low
spirits and he said 20 her. Don't
come TO mel Go and buy skipping
rope" There are no doubt many persons
turned away by honest members Of the
profession, who confess ignorance Of the
case or doubt their ability TO give relief
There are many who will set physician
down as an ignoramous who cannot take
every case that comes along. But for a
physician Of any medical school 10 pre-
tend that he can cure everything is rs
much quackery as the nostroms that are
advertised in the newspapers as cure
alls.
At the recent meeting Of the British
Medical Association, certain Doctor J.
+. Goodhart remarked that "the sick
man now always wants to know too
much. He wsnts to know what is the
matter with him, when il is not possible
to tell him; moreover, he will have an
answer, and II not, he thinks the doctor
al ignoramus, and calls in some one
else."
New York Life editorially says: The
allegorical sick man whom the doctor
thus places at the bar is right and we
all know that he is increasing. 1t would
seem that the man demands very little
for his money. lie wants to know what
Ia the matter with him. This is q high
ly laudable desire. Then II the dactor
doesn't know what's the matter With
him, he wants TO know that, and to
know it quick enough to get some one
else who does, il that Is possible. An
acknowledgement from my doctor, and
particularly before go widely advertised
a meeting aa,that Of the British As
sociation, that this state of things is
coming about, is certainly very encour-
aging. 1t shows that the pa
tients are taking the common sense
end Of their cases into their own hands,
and 1t tends to pake the doctors mucn
more careful about what they are doing
II is one thing TO have faith in a doctor
who has convinced patient that he
knows his business, and quite another
to swallow all the medicine which doc
tor may give, with the accompanying
assurance that you have no right to in
quire as TO its purpose or value.
TnR JOURNAL is very much gratined
that Marion county has got onto cash
basis. and trusts it may stay there. The
inevitable tendency will be 10 plunge the
county In debt again on various pre-
tsxta, Tho current expenses have been
reduced from $4,000 to 100000 a year TO
about $4,000 year, and still all the
functions OF the county are we'll per.
formed, and all the officials are we'll
paid, except the two commissioners,
who for mere pittancs each month
transact business that any private CON
oern would pay much more for. But
this proves that public business is not
dependsntupon big salaries, and everyone
employed by the PUBLIC need not be stall
fed and rolling Ia clover in order to get
good. service, The work that has been
done In the City Of Salem is we'll known
to all. The city is paying of its debts,
is making no new ones, and all stimulus
and opportunity to work gratis on the
taxpayer have been removed. The con-
dition Of the Salem School District has
been very much improved by the same
process of enforcing business principles.
Only few years ago the district was u
year to year and half behind on cur