Evening star., 1922-03-19
Medical Men Urged to Purge
Ranks of Unworthy and Venal

the story SO that the facts OF his
the people. His incompetency be-
came so noised about that his
knives henceforth rusted.
The records of the supreme
court of the state of Indiana con-
tain the story of a man. client
of mine, who was injured in
railroad wreck. He had consulted
a specialist whose regular consul
tation fee was $50. He had only
$40, so the specialist accepted that
sum and made examination. I'M
, mediateIy thereafter, he Informed
the counsel of the railroad COM
pany that the man was a mailing
erer. For this information he re-
ceived 500 from the railroad.
When the trial of the case came
on he took 5000 more of railroad
money and testified for the rail-
road without obtaining permission
mony was all 1 needed to prove
the folly of the railroads conten-
tion.
Let not the citation of these
incidents be construed as an as
sault on the medical profession.
Tho memory of my father, of his
ways, his words and his work, and
the knowledge I possess of the
constant benefactions which thou
sands of physicians and surgeons
are gladly giving to the poor and
needy would stamp me as false
and ungrateful if 1 charged mer-
cenary motives against the pro-
fession. My only purpose is to
suggest to the devoted and sacra-
ficial souls making up the pro-
fession that they get rid OF the
few within their ranks who con-
ceive that it is proper for them
to barter the skill and knowledge
they possess among the suffering
sons of Adam The state can do
much and should do a it can, but
the high minded members of the
profession must back up the state
in its efforts to unfrock the false
priests ministering AT the altar
of our common humanity.
| might write this screed against
my own profession or against the
clergy. ] may do so: but it is no
excuse for stealing horse to
point to another horse thief un-
whipped of justice in the same
neighborhood. 1t will not do for
the medical profession merely to
point the finger Of scorn at law
ycrs. and ministers of the gospel.
The streets of Jerusalem We're
kept clean by every dwcller
sweeping his own dooryard.
i: 4 !: 4:
am reminded of Il story illus
trative of how Thaddeus stevens
used to feel about his politics.
Just after the civil war. gov
ernment employe was accused in
the House of Representatives of
being a dcfaulter. rs he our
thief" inquired Stevens. Being
assured he was. Stevens promptly
declared: 1T is our duty to defend
him" ! sometimes think that pro-
fessional men too often feel con-
strained to defend their associates.
No doubt they are inspired by
desire to keep down scandal. 1t is
hard enough to build up good or
ganization and impossible TO make
il perfect The Master of Mankind
selected only twelve men to look
after his business. He exercised
greatest care and yet among the
twelve he found one that was not
worthy.
The good name of the medical
fraternity demands that those
physicians and surgeons who are
consecrated to their divine calling
shall eXpel from their societies
+ the incompetent. the unworthy and
the, venal. The state must back
up this conduct by revoking for
ever the licenses of those expelled.
The rest of us who never know
what moment we may require the
skill and scientific knowledge of
the profession should guard our
selves against speaking in slight
ing terms of any man derotinG
himself to the alleviation of suf-
ferfng and to the betterment of
the health of the people. Doctors
should be tried one by one. not in
numbers. In that way we can con-
denim the tradesmen, while pre-
serving reverence for the profess
sion.
Copyright 1922 By Thomas r. Marshali)