The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1912-09-18
In Appreciation of the Doctor

In Appreciation of the Doctor
As one cannot draw an indictment
against community, so one cannot
reasonably give sweeping approval of
ia profession; but now and then, per-
haps in the lifting shadow of some
dread illness happily surmounted one
Is moved to new sense OF the obliga-
tons under which we all rest to the
physicians. Sometimes this is obscured
by the conduct OF those who don the
livery of heaven to serve the devil in"
a class against whom the profession
wages persistent warfare, but on the
whole not even 1.-The cloth" presents a
higher standard of service to human
ity. Sordid and base, indeed, must be
the man who can deliberately violate
the solemn dedication of the Hippo
cratic oath, to which he must SUBJ
scribe before he is accorded his de-
gree.
| I do solemnly swear by whatever
hold most sacred:
| That l will be loyal to the profess
sion of medicine and just and gener-
Gus to its members:
That will lead my life and prac-
tice my art in uprightness and honor:
| That into whatsoever house 1 shall
enter, 1t shall be for the good of the
sick to the utmost of my power,
holding myself far aloof from wrong,
from corruption, from the tempting
of others to vice:
That I will exercise my art solely
for the cure of my patients, and will
give no drug. perform no operation
for a criminal purpose. even IL So
licited, far less suggest 1t;
| That whatsoever shall see or hear
of the lives of men which is not At
ting to be spoken, will keep inviola-
bly, secret.
And there is no need of this vow,
IL society Is not to go to pieces, for
little as We know of physicians. 1t is
| little of us that he does not know
our foibles and Weaknesses. our sins
and sorrows-and rare is the man or
woman who is not debtor to his skill,
his sympathy, his cheer and his de-
votion. 1t Is always with pang that
we read of the death of such doctor.
trusting that he may have received in
his last days some repayment in kind
for all that he has giveh of service to
others
In the memory Of such experiences
| 1t is with indignation that one hears
of the rank and file of this noble pro-
! fession pilloried as 'the doctors
trust by those opposed to the bill Of
Senator owen for a national depart
ment Of health. It is not necessary
to probe for the motives of those who
are fighting this admirable measure.
Doubtless many, especially those of
them who profess the faith OF Chris
tian Science, are conscientious, but
nevertheless, under the banner Of
| medical freedom" they are playing
into the hands of patent medicine
manufacturers. adulterators of food
and medical charlatans, to the peril
of the public health. The Owen bill
will merely extend to the whole coun-
try and make more effective the kind
Of sanitary guardianship which in the
city of New York Is accomplishing g.
progressive and astonishing reduction
of the rate of mortality. Imagine for
a moment the department of health Of
this city and port discontinued: 1t
would not be forty-eight hours before
we should be exposed to physical dan
gers comparable only to the brood OF
lPandora's box. atgi srfAr9s4.r
The fact is that in the practical APP
plication Of preventive medicine
American physicians are acknowl-
edged to be the leaders of the world.
They have not lost the primacy in
this respect which twenty years ago
led to their conferes in Vienna to say
I'VE are astonished at your achieve
INA &C.,. q Wi inn
patience for the publication of your
volumes"
Twenty-Five years ago Mr. Brye in
his great book, 1.-The American Com
monwealth," quoted the appreciation
of competent authorities of our
contributions to biology and medical
science" Indeed, 1t is remarkable,
he said. "how far from SNOWY and
sensational is the bulk of the work
Gin general science) now done in
America" What must he say now of
the great proportions which medical
and surgical research have since at
Itained! The pursuit of medicine in
America fairly seethes with progress
and interest 1t has all the zest of
exploration. Millions OF dollars are
| invested in the study of diseases once
thought incurable; unrelenting war
fare is waged upon contagious, infec-
lions and hereditary; the education
Of the public on matters OF health is
systematic and thorough, and back Of
the professional honor which impels
| 1t all Is Il spirit OF quiet altruisr'
which is better substitute for the
knighthood OF the middle ages. once
more we say. gratitude and honor to
the good physician!