The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1901-09-14
[lI5]31!a9|ly3l1
UNDERTAKES
THE CARE OF THE SICK.
X. wINNETT ORR.
For The Courier.

As manifestations OF any human all
msnt, there are two seats Of symptoms.
phys and mental. The body and
the mind are both affected. This has
been the belief OF the regular medical
profession since the time Of Hippo
crates and has always been govern
ing principle in practice. There have
always been, however, hangers on at
both sides OF the profession who have
claimed on the one hand or the other
that disease is strictly material or
purely spiritual process, and that rene.
dial measures Of only one class or the
other should be employed. Each OF
these medical" sects has been chsrac-
terized by some one predominant trait,
and each in turn has succumbed with
out seriously affecting the straightfor-
ward progress of medical science.
The human body is a very compli-
Gated orgapism-a compound Of cells,
tissues and organs. The different parts
of the body are 30 related that any con-
siderable disturbance Of one part may
erve seriously to Interfere with the
harmony OF their relations. When any
such disturbance does occur, it is said
that man is sick, and measures are at
once adopted calculated to restore or
reestablish the normal functions Of the
affected patient.
In the evolution Of the human race
which taught men that preparation for
a certain duty and frequent rerform-
ance Of it enables one to do it better,
it came about that the care Of the sick
fell to a certain few. These men were
called physicians. Since the earliest
times certain qualifications have been
recognized as essential for a physician.
First of all he should be gifted with
good general knowledge, with q clear
conscience, and with sound judgment.
He should have an inherent sympathy
for the sick and a natural inclination to
relieve their suffering. These things,
combined with a thorough education in
the arts and sciences upon which the
fundamental principles Of medicine
rest, should be followed by careful
teaching regarding all the structures
and functions OF the human body in
health and the ways in which these
may be influenced by disease.
The natural tendency Of the human
body is toward health-the restoration
Of any diseased body to healthy con-
dition consists either in removing ap-
parent distractions or in 30 stimulat-
ing the body forces that these same
barriers to restored health may he
naturally removed. These are simple
facts, but facts so we'll established as
to be immovable, and facts which
should uuderlie all measures employed
for the cure OF disease. Men or women
who do not know the laws and prin-
ciples involved in a thorough under
standing Of these propositions cannot
but apply misdirectedly or with utter
want OF direction any measures for the
relief Of the sick. Such men or meas
ures, moreover, cannot secure more than
temporary employment, as is shown by
history since the world began.
Truth and common sense are destined
finally to prevail. A general knowl
edge by the people of already existing
facts will easily serve to dissipats tn,
errors and ignorance that exist concern.
ing medical facts. This knowledge al
ready exists and needs only to be placed
where it can be seen. As Browning says