Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-03
CHARGES AGAINST Doctors.

The medical PROFESSION Oh tiie couii-
try has been deeply stirred this week
by the published statements of two
arraignment of the medical and sur
gical profession in general. making
serious charges against hospitals and
their management, and the other
suggestion of a radical nature in which
the use of serums is denounced, and
use of drugs and chemicals discour-
aged. The writer of the latter also
denOunces viviSection.
In a statement of one of these So
called doctors, pleas are made for
legislation to correct alleged corrupt
practices by INSCRIPTIONS practition-
ers, both medical and surgical. The
author declares that 1.-The saving of
life is incidental to earning fees" and
that young practitioners acquire edu-
cation at the cost Of human life" He
also declares that noted physicians
prey on poor patients.
Even the average reader would hesi-
tate before accepting such accusations
against the medical and surgical pro
LESSONS. 1t may be that in some
attempt surgical operations in hospi-
tails because they have to get the ex-
periencc at some stage. but there is
no doubt that in any hospital OF rec
ognizrd Importance such an operation
is always performed under the scrunity
and direction Of skilful surgeons
For the public TO accept such an
| arraienment as true would be to dis
| credit the entire medical profession in
which most OF us place confidence
that is comforting. We do not like
| to have our idols shattered. The fam
! close touch with community as Is
| the pastor of the church. He is ac-
| quainted not only with the physical
but the moral status of his patients
| and deals with them accordingly. He
is the real friend in need" to man,
| FAMILIES. and if they have occasion TO
| go to the hospital the family physi-
| clan as a rule goes along with them,
| to see that they are given all the at
at the institution. In case of an oper-
alton which he does not perform him
| self. the family physician should be.
and as a rule is, at the side of his pa
| tient when it is possible during such
an operation.
| in the case of very poor people, and
| especially in the crowded sections of
such cities as New York, where peo>
| pie scarcely know the meaning OF the
I phrase family physician" no doubt
thousands are hurried away, as neces-
sitv demands to the nearest institution
| which can accept them for medical or
surgical treatment. Emergency treat
| mtnt in such cases would no doubt
be Easty and many times i'll advised,
bit as rapidly as the machinery Of
! such institutions revolves to them
| they arr undoubtedly cared for in the
best manner possible with the facili-
ties at hand.
| Human nature is pretty much the
| same the world over, and to accuse
| physicians. surgeons, attendants ana
| nurses of being in conspiracy to
cheat the public in the requirement OF
education and experience in their
| chosen calling and to charge that they
| have become degenerate in their moral
| respect for human life to an extent
that has eliminated pity and kindness
| from their nature, is pretty near what
| We call trash" Any doctor or any
| man connected with the medical pro-
| fession, who claims to know anything
about the general practice of the pro-
| feSsion, must be- out of his mind or
| at least unreliable to make such state
| ments as those referred to in our
| oDpninR par1pr