Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-02-04
A Letter From DIR. Martin.

REGISTER last week, taken from
an Osteopathic Publication, causes
me to use this means of pointing
out to the unwary how easily they
may be separated from hard
earned cash by the arts of certain
slick-tongued quacks.
The article in question relates
how Medicine and Surgery have
failed to cure hernia without an
operation or truss, and attempts
to point out the superiority OF Os-
teopathy in the treatment of such
a condition. 1t is SO plainly a
Misrepresentation of the truth
that one versed even in the rudi-
ments of Anatomy could not fail
to marvel that such an article
should be placed before intelligent
readers, unless, possibly as an ex-
ample of the boundless claims OF a
legalized fraud.
For the benefit of those readers
who are not informed along this
line, 1 will say, that ordinarily,
hernia, or rupture, is caused by a
weak place in the abdominal wall,
through which protrudes portions
of the intestines, omentum, or
other viscera. The contents of
this tumor should be returned to
the abdominal cavity and means
instituted to keep it reduced. In
young people cure is generally
brought about by reducing tee
hernia and applying properly
fitted truss or compress. In child
rem the truss can generally be dis
carded in few months. In older
people, surgical operation, in
which the rent is repaired, is the
only chance for permanent cure.
| have stated the facts, as may
be proven by reference to any
authority, Medical or otherwise,
and yet, compare these statements
with the Osteopathic article and
note the difference.
Now q word as to the value of
medicine in the treatment OF
disease: Medicines are made from
various elements of the Animal,
Vegetable and Mineral Kingdoms,
and are used to correct certain ir-
regularities of the human system.
There are three kinds of medicine
we all take, viz: Food, air and
water. Water is composed OF the
elements Hy ydrogen and Oxygen,
and may as properly be called
medicine as the preparations OF
iron the doctor adds to water and
administers to a patient whose
system is deficient in that impor-
tant element. To normal mind
it is automatic that medicine will
be potent means in the cure OF
disease as long as we breathe air,
eat food and drink water.
The Science of Medicine en-
braces all known legitimate means
of curing disease. Massage, sug-
gestion, electricity, hydro ther-
apy, all have uses, and are recog-
nized by good physicians the
world over; but shall we discard
all except massage and suggestion
and call it Osteopathy ? Well,
that is about what a certain igno-
rant old doctor did, not many
years ago. | have it from good
authority that when he decided to
legalze his imaginary discovery,
and was called before the State
Board of Health, and was asked
to describe the Circle of Willis Ia
remarkable anastomosis of arte-
J ries at the base of the brain) he
was compelled to admit his igno-
rance of any such structure.
And now the great State of Mis-
souri,, contrary to the example o.
!. sister states, has legalized this
, system of humbuggery called Os'
teopathy.
!! The unscrupulous Osteopatl
! may now legally hypnotic, mas
) sage and extract an extortionat
! fee from every gullible person ap
3 plying to him for treatment.
l admit there are many quack
: in the profession OF Medicine, of
} fering their victims worthless nos
trums and cure-alls. So in all pro
fessions. But / feel convinced tina
the main body of medical men ar
honest, upright, truthful, an
above all, intelligent.
l close with the following ex
tract from a paper read by D.
n VIM. L. Brosius before the las
= meeting Of the Missouri Stat
Medical Association:
"The hydropath, masseuer, hyp
notist, homeopath, christian scien
tist, osteopath, thermopath, tn
physio-t -therapeutist and psych