The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-04-02
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION roo MODEST

TIKI MEDICAL PROFESSION TOO MODEST.
The Baltimore papers carry accounts of the
entire success Of the remarkable operation per-
formed week more ago, whereby the sight
Of a child was restored by transplanting TO Its
eyeball the cornea of pig. The V9rginian noted
the performance OF the remarkable operation
though at that time IL was not certain that 1t
would be successful. The more recent reports
bring the gratifying information that the opera
tion--the most remarkable in the annals of OPTIC
metric surgery-was an entire success. The
patient-a three-months-old infant, blind from
births enabled to see. the fact having been
demonstrated by infallible tests The operation
was performed by young surgeon in the Balti.
more Ear, Eye and Nose hospital and, as we
understand it. this modest young man has stead
tasty refused 10 permit the use of his name and
prefers not to have the fame which is justly his
by reason of his wonderful, daring skill That is
idea of ethics obtain in the medical profession?
When surgeon performs some signal service to
humanity, the world stands ready to do him
homage, and false sense of modesty should
deny the world that privilege. Jenner had the
credit for his great discovery of vaccination the
world knelt at the feet of Pasteur for his contr1
button of the hydrophobIa cure. and so on down
the line. II is ready to pay homage to the I'M
known Baltimorean.
Commenting upon this medieval code Of ethics
prompted by the Baltimore operation, the Atlanta
Constitution observes that in justice to itself
and humanity the medical profession should
forswear the "ethicsp of the middle centuries as
Of medicine. Honest and judicious publicity
helps the honest physician and the public
conspiracy of silence damages the honest ply.
stefan and the public and plays direct into the
hands OF the charlatan and the quack"
Tho lawyer. the statesman, the business man
the college president. the preacher. the inventor
each one of the elements that go to make up
our wonderful civilization, recognize and profit
by that tremendous machine for disseminating
know ledge. the press. One profession only
tho supremacy important profession whose mis-
sion il is to lfe~~-stands pat on secrecy and
the tortuous. Intellectual methods of the middle
centuries We do not believe the average
physician clings 10 this view Those VINO do
are simply worshipera Of tradition,
The reputable press may be depended upon
to Cooperate with the reputable physician in the
better assurance of this be furnished than
ia the of Friedman. the tuberculosis utiack
Had II not been for the press and for its emphatic
exposures Friedman and his associates would
have been at this very time capitalizing human
suffering in every state in the union. The press
however, In cooperation with the medical pro-
fession, put end to his raid upon public
Credullty.
There Is more reason why reputable prac-
ttioners should hesitate use the nevrspapers to
spread the constantly developing virtues OF the
science OF medicine than that they should seek
the aid of the press in exposing the wiles of the
medical falSer"
With the Constitution we hope and believe that
the medical profession is awakening to the value
Of enlightening the layman when victories over
disease scored. IL the modest physician or
surgeon who is benefactor to humanity has to
be drawn into the limelight in connection with
the discovery let that be done too, and let the
modest practitioner hide his bushes as best he
can.