A review of a report of a committee of the American Medical Association on the permanent cure of reducible hernia or rupture / by George Heaton.

  • Heaton, George, 1808-1879.
Date:
1853
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A review of a report of a committee of the American Medical Association on the permanent cure of reducible hernia or rupture / by George Heaton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    operation mainly depends. The mere description of the operation he may give to any one; hut in the hands of other men it is very sure to prove unsuccessful. In this want of success he of course must share, until finally the operation is condemned, merely hecause other men lack the ability to perform it. Yet, according to the Committee's theory of condemnation, the very course on the part of the surgeon which would secure to humanity the benefit of such an operation, is not merely to he found fault with, but actually held up to the reproach of all honorable and high-minded men. The absurdity of such a judgment, on the part of sensible men, is to me so manifest, that I deem it almost an insult to common sense to expose it; and had they seen fit, in their report, to have stated their own private opinion in regard to my course, although it must have been entirely without foundation, it might have remained on record undisturbed; but as they have gone still further, and founded on this baseless opinion certain reflections derogatory to my character, I cannot refrain from holding up so dishonorable, if not libellous an attack, as eminently worthy the reprobation of every true gentleman in the profession and com- munity. I find nothing generous, nothing manly in such an attack. Indeed, what I have done to merit it I cannot divine. I am not aware that I ever intentionally insulted any one of the Committee. If my course has not been such as comes up to their idea of philan- thropy, they may in their hearts pity my want of humanity, but never, while I am not doing evil to my fellow men, upbraid me publicly, I flatter myself, however, that I feel quite as tenderly for those suffering in mind or body, as they do. I think I might descend to the same acts of charity and self-sacrifice. In the faculty of deliberately attacking a fellow physician who is pursuing the even tenor of his course, and perchance doing good in an humble way, Avithout interfering in the least with others—of attempting to undermine the reputation which years of steady industry may have afforded him—I yield the palm most willingly to the Committee, and trust they may find quiet repose on such laurels. I must inform them, however, that denunciation founded on mere surmise, from however lofty a source it may emanate, and however well it may 3