Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-11-06

| Read by DIR. r. z. Lierle before
Marshall County Medical Society Nov
| l and requested published by vote OF
the society].
We and each Of us have the power
to become more efficient as physicians
better and stronger as men.
II has seemed to me that there
should be better understanding OF the
medical profession by the general pub
lie. / have reached this conclusion be-
cause Of certain conditions that exist
in the public mind relative to the
treatment, cause and cure OF disease
The conditions to which refer are
conditions of distrust, superstition ana
lack OF belief In scientific medicine.
The cause of these conditions lies
both with the medical profession and
with the public. Our admitted Inability
TO cope with various diseases to which
the human body is heir. our incapacity
to fathon the mysteries of life and
death do not satisfy the public as to
our fitness as physicians. Neither does
trickery. graft and Incompetence as
practised by Il fair percentage OF medl-
cal men who suhsist upon the mental
warderings for help and hope OF the
incurable, tend to restore that CONN
dence which is SO necessary to. and so
deserved by that great body OF medi-
cal men whose watchword Is proven
ton. whose love for humanity is gen.
uine and by whom every effort 1s be-
ling used to relieve human suffering.
The public's par. in the cause Of these
conditions comes from an excusable
ignorance OF things medical. The
va tness of the field Of medicine, the
marvel Of the human mechanism, pre-
cludes the possibility Of comprehen-
sion of this subject without deep study
and thought.
Ignorance Of any subject or profess
sion brands it with distrust and super
stition Superstition has played its
part with the public in the cause and
cure OF disease from the beginning OF
time and is with US today. To some,
our transgressions Of natures laws
resulting in disease is simply visi-
tation Of the wrath Of God; while with
others buckeye carried III the pocket,
piece of bacon planted under the
caves Of house and many other no
tons. quite as silly, dispel disease and
bring the sufferer back to health. APP
parent cures In these cases are based
on beliefs that are unfounded. wrong
deductions and drawn from fatty OBJ
servations. Reason is the governor OF
truths. Truths are facts. Science IL
based on proven facts.
The building OF house or the
pla nting Of a tree must be conducted
along the Tines that reason and exper-
fence have proved to be right. why
! then should not the treatment OF dis
ease be based upon reason ano
science The plan Of the physician II
not to heal. nature heals: but it Is our
| province and privilege to assist nature
by increasing her resistance and help
ing her to combat disease and protecs
her BY preventive measures thru oul
l,noUIedse OF its cause. There can pe
no denial of the fact that 70 the av-
eraee individual life is his greatest as
set: and Vet he knows so little OF no"
to preserve it. If he gets sick he risks
| his judgment as to cause. cure. etc, IN
stead of consulting some one whose
training and study based upon reason
ana science will give him greater
chances for recovery.
/ That Mother Gocse's soothing syruI
cured a case Of black diphtherla OF
that q certain horse doctor IN tne
com munity knows more about meda
cine than any physician. is not founa-
ed on reason and proves hoth1Hs' .
! single case or two has too many un-
! certainties connected with it to De o.
| any value in arriving at conciusioi