The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-19
Professional Suicide. =

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glory that ours is the only profess
: sion on earth to-day that's trying to
destroy ITSELF
This statement was made recently
by Professor Keen, of the, Jefferson
Medical college Of Philadelphia. Pro-.
lessor Keen in elaborating this
thought called attentions to the fact
that physicians are Headers In all
hygtenic and sanitary reforms; that
they are continually studying, not only
how to. cure disease, but how to pre-
vent it-trying to discover its origin,
and endeavoring to. instruct the peo-
pie in the use of means and the crea-
ton Of conditions which will free them
entirely from it's >ravages. He called
it professional suicide
The public generally will give to the
physicians generous credit for their
philanthropic motivesand efforts. They
certainly are doing more than any one
else to eradicate ;;qtseasee and remove
those conditions which make their
services necessary. This is a sort of
professional suicide which magni-
aese greatly the service which these
men render, dignifies their profession,
and gets or:them a high place in the
respect and Appreciation Of their fell
lows. yise- =s,;-s.,sr.:. ~.
The medical profession is certainly
a grand one, and men Of all profess
E2sions and Occupations and vocations
are ready to. accord to the faithful
doctor as high honor as is felt and
entertained for any man. He is hon
ored also for the liberality with which
he expends his time and his profess
sional ability in free hospital service
and unrequited labor for the poor. %. j
The DOCTOR it. may be urged, is not
the only man who is in a measure un.
dermining the foundations of his owr
business and creating conditions which
| to- "a greater or less extent eliminate
him as a necessary factor in human
life. Take the lawyer. He very Otter
deprives himself Of the prospect Of
large fees by advising and urging hi
clients to arrive. 3 at settlements ,ant
| compromises with out resort to litiga
ton. Litigation appears to be on tn,
decrease, and the efforts of the law
yer. seem to- be expended more ant
more in keeping. his clients outs o
trouble than In directing or f1ghtin,
their battles In the courts. .ra a.
F The priestlyaoffice has less and les
to do with regulating the conduct an,
managing the business affairs: Of men
| To what extent this function has bee1
eliminate oIuiiii may = not b
quite clear, hit hit thes tendency 81 thing
is plain enouglsaand tits plain enough
that ut SIneaa1s ,Efessr:s of authority an,
power for the clergy: IT ,:.Twhich the
yield in most gases "a willing: aequies
cence. 'Fs.:e 2. -. =; =" = -74 80 =
/ AS for the editor, he no longer seek
to, promulgatey opinion: so much as t
disseminate information, and by SO do
ing has abdicated in large degree som
functions of his office once magnife
out Of due proportions by such men a
Greeley and Weed and Dana and Wat
terson. -. 3e->r= = $3.50 .,z.s:3z< Z
| But all these professional change
and others that might be noted bea
but slight resemblance in point: {
professional suicide for want: of :.
better term, to the devotion Of tn
conscientious and faithful physician t
those self-fmposed labors which ten
to bring about conditions where. HI
services will besless and less necessar,
The doctor is an everyday ,philar
thropist. Il. -...-