Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-08-26
MEDICAL MISFITS
By H. Addington Bruce


cal profession as we'll as outside of if
The best physicians themselves willingly
concede this And it is largely because way
has not been found to eliminate the M. DIS
who really have no business to be practising
medicine that public confidence in the "ortho-
dox" medical man is on the wane today.
Quite the worst medical misfit, of course
is the man who is in medicine simply as a
'money-making enterprise.
There are numerous doctors who grow
wealthy legitmately. Because of exceptional
knowledge and skill they are much in demand
by patients who afford large fees and are
willing to pay we'll for expert service
Such doctors, however, if the right sort, by
no means confne their practice to the we'll
TODD. Money making is to them not an end,
but means enabling them to devote a great
deal of time to medical work for which they
get nothing or next to nothing in the way of
fees.
Hence it would be most unjust to brand them
as medical misfits.' Nor should their wealth
be grudged them Rather it should be count
ed fortunate that they are in an exceptional
position to apply their great knowledge for
the good OF the very poor as we'll as of the
very rich
Altogether different is the case of those who
are "out for all they can get"
Literally or figuratively they are "ambu-
lance chaSers." Directly or indirectly they
cunningly, puff" themselves Equally devoid
of conscience and of advanced medical know
ledge, they boldly attack any and every disor-
der-for a consideration-paid in advance.
There are other miSfitS, too, IN addition
to the craSSly mercenary.
No man, for example, no matter how hon
Orable, should be a practising physician II ne
is more interested in his science than in his
patients. For the human touch is indiSpenSa-
Bile to successful healing, and an ultra-ScentiSt
is prone to think of those who come to him
as merely ceases" rather than men and women
in suffering.
Hence the advice which wise teachers of
the patient, gentlemen, as we'll as the dis
ease" The doctor who forgets the patient in
the disease is almost certain. by his. cold inn
counteract all his efforts to a cure
Yet another medical miSfit is the doctor so
overconfident of his knowledge that, even when
critical situation develops, he is reluctant to
hard to overestimate the amount of needless
pain and anguish caused by such misplaced
medicos, swollen in their own conceit
So, too, with another group of physicians
who. in the face of ever growing, evidence,
Stubbornly refuse to reckon with the mental
element in disease.
Ever more and more surely it is being estab-
liShed that the basis of much serious i'll health
is wrong thinking" The doctor who depends
wholly or chiefly on drugs and surgery is as
truly medical miSfit as the self-Styled "heal.
er" who would cure every malady by mental
means alone.
Some day, it is to be hoped, organized medi-
cal bodies will "house clean" in earnest. Until
that day they need not hope to command the
universal respect and confidence in which the
medical profession ought to be held.
Copyright, 1919, by The Associated News
papers)
Out at Country Club the other day pass
er-by was hit by a golf ball. Highly indig-
nant, he rushed toward the player, shouting:
"That'I just cost you S., mister
But it wasn't my fault protested the
golfer. "You heard me shout fore didn t
lyou?"