Medicine in the United States, and its relations to coöperative investigation.

  • Billings, John S. (John Shaw), 1838-1913.
Date:
[1887]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medicine in the United States, and its relations to coöperative investigation. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    been keen and incessant competition. These physicians, whose positions are fairly assured, and who, as a rule, have all the practice they desire, are not usually active leaders in movements to secure medical legislation, al- though they passively assent to such efforts, or at least do not oppose them ; and their names may sometimes be found appended to memorials urging such legisla- tion. They are clear-headed, shrewd, practical men, who know that their busmess interests are not specially injured by quacks and ignoramuses—rather the con- trary in fact, for they are called oh to repair the damage done by the quack to people who have more money than brains ; and they are not inclined to risk the fate of the Mexican donkey who died oi congojas agenas —that is, of other people's troubles. Then there is another large class of honest, hard- working practitioners who rely more on what they call experience and common sense than on book learning. Many of these have obtained assured positions of respect- ability and usefulness, and are comparatively indifferent to medical legislation so far as their own interests are concerned. Others, however, who are not so successful, feel the competition of the local herb doctor or of the travelling quack more keenly, and have more decided views about the importance of diplomas. Among these are the young men who have not yet acquired local fame, and who are apt to become very indignant over the doings of some charlatan in the neighborhood, or of some druggist who prescribes over his counter. These last are usually quite clear in their minds that the State ought to interfere and prevent injury to the health of the people. I have known two unsuccessful physicians who finally abandoned practice and who gave as a reason for their failure—one that he did not know enough, and the other that he had not the manners and tact which would inspire confidence in his patients; but such frank-speaking men are rare. Thus far, as a rule, the efforts which have been made to secure legislation upon medical matters in America have come from the profession itself and have been chiefly urged and recommended by physicians. The general public, and even the educated public, has shown very little interest in the matter. It does not demand protection against ignorance, but entrusts the care of its health and the lives of those who are nearest and dearest to it to almost any one who announces him-