Evening journal., 1901-12-05
"WHEN DOCTORS
DISAGREE"
They Discuss the Ethics Of
Their Profession
THEIR VIEWS ARE INTERESTING
Recent Editorial in the Evening
journal Gives Rise to Various
Expressions

1t has been ascertained that rhy-
sicians of this city were much interest
ed in, and have discussed to a cOnsid- |.
cradle extent the editorial on Rival
Medical Schools" published in the
Evening Journal on Tuesday last. 1t
was to the effect that THE last decade
has brought about a modification of
professional antagonism between Une
two great schools, and that there Is a
tendency TO declare the respective mer-
its of the Two systems.
In this connection it is interesting to |
+ know that DR.. William Osler, of Johns
Hopkins University, in the New York
4 sun some time ago, said:"A new school
+ OF practitioners has arisen which cares
nothing for homeopathy, and less for /
so-called a.llOpathy. 1t seeks to study |
nationally and scientifically the action
OF drugs, old and new"
DR.. Charles A. L. Reed of Cincin- |
natl, o., president of the American
Medical Association, in his address 10 |
that body in June, 1901, took occasion
TO express himself thus upon increas-
& ing professional unity:
THE responsibility of the profession |
Il is increased rather than diminished. |
Science has come to have a clever
meaning. He who now proclaims a
dogma cries alone in the night, while |
the world sleeps. They who demand
q creed may read its varying terms
only in the progressive revelation of
natural laws. Practice has changed.
The depletion, the gross medicatiOns,
the absurd attenuatiOns, the anti
mineralism have given way to re-
fined pharmacy and to a more rational
therapy Sacrificial surgery has yield
ed to the spirit of conservatism. Pre-
q vention is given precedence over cure.
FducatiOn implies research and dis
covery, and all may delve.
Il proclaim, events proclaim, the eX-
istence of a new school of medicine 1T
is as distinct from the schools of fifty
years ago as is the Christian dispensa-
tion from it's pagan antecedents. II isl
the product of convergent influences, of
diverse antecedent origin. 1t acknOwl-
edges no distinctive title, 1t heralds mo-
shibboleth. 1t is a school of human
tolerance, of personal independence, of
scientific honesty. It is the slave OF
neither prejudice nor precOnceptiOn
and abandOns the accepted truth Of
yesterday, if it only be the demon
strated error Of today. It recognizes
that truth is undergoing progressive
revelation, not ending today, but con-
tinuing through the ages"
When asked his opinion on the sub
ject. Dr. j. W. Crumbaugh said:
1.-THE fact that disease is not a fixed
condition, that it does not arise from
one common cause, is sufficient evi
dence that he who essays to arrest its
course or prevent its occurrence, must
have many and varied means of so do
ing. There is no al,-hea.ing plant, no
panacea for the healing OF the nations.
There is a logic that is sure to secure
the overthrow of any system that pre-
tends to meet and fight disease with
one weapon. Every creed and cult and
sect that is controlled by a single idea
must be relegated to the limbo of the
useless.
Both schools are approaching a
scientific basis of therapeusis, which
is common ground. l believe that the
time will come here. and lit has already
come in New York State, when the
physician of one schoO, will call into
consultation one Of the other. The
State Medical Society of New York in
1882. by substantial majority. abOl-
lished THE rule forbidding the consulta-
tion between the practitioners of the
two schools. One effect of the action
is the realization by the different mem
bers that the two schools are not SO
far apart as was first thought-that
their interests are more identical.
1.-The clause in the code of ethics that
forbids practitioners of one school tr
consult with practitioners of another
school is most certainly contrary to the
Constitution of the United States. Con.
seQuently it lis un-American and con.
trary to THE dictates of humanity"
On the other hand. DIR. Howard Ogls
says:
81 do not see how there could be q
union of the two schools, because i
both were half way honest they coulC
only agree to disagree. The systems o
treating disease are diametrically op
posed to eadh other. If I used tn,
homeopathic treatment it would not b,
fair of me to trade as a regular phy
M sician. or vice versa. In the matter q
surgical treatment and diagnosis W,
could agree, but the treatments dis
agree"
DR.. Frank F. Pierson said:
| I'm the West the lines Of professgona
| feeling between the two schools neve
have been so strong as in the East
Even throughout the East the tendenc,
has been to relax THE rule OF nOn-nrc
M fessicnal intercourse. Tt has been abro
gated in the State Of New York and i
all the leading medical colleges. a
M we'll with the excepticn of the Univer
M sity OF Penusv'wan'a. There it is rigid
ly enforced. and the instructors max
a great point with iha stUdants to hav
absolutely nothing to do with the othe
& school.
X 'In Delaware the tendency has bee