Medical reform and the present system of medical instruction : an address delivered at the semi-annual meeting of the New Jersey Medical Society, held at Camden, Nov. 13, 1849 / by Othniel H. Taylor.

  • Taylor, Othniel H. (Othniel Hart), 1803-1869.
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical reform and the present system of medical instruction : an address delivered at the semi-annual meeting of the New Jersey Medical Society, held at Camden, Nov. 13, 1849 / by Othniel H. Taylor. 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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    medical practitioners, and remarks that if they be men of su- perficial attainments, and undisciplined understanding, the pro- fession, no less than themselves, will suffer from the scrutiny.— On the other hand, when tho rapid, and seemingly brilliant ca- reer of dashing pretension, rendered fearless by the very want of knowledge, is made a subject of sensorious comment amongst us, nothing is more common than the reply, that this apparent suc- cess,.is but a transient e-vil—that, sooner or later, merit is sure to find its proper level; and hence the removal of such evils may be safely entrusted to the public itself, without involving the pro- fession, in the vain and endless task of endeavoring to restrain the inevitable and constantly recurring consequences of a system, over which it cannot exercise control. This reasoning is as plausible, as it is convenient, to men, whose daily avocations are painfully engrossing, and whose efforts for the public weal are almost invariably attributed to selfish and unworthy motives. It is true, that the principles of the science of life begin to be more widely discussed in popular lectures, and that class books on the subject, are rapidly becoming common in our academies, and elementary schools ; nor will any intelligent prac- titioner venture to impugn the opinion of the celebrated Rush, who, in one of his introductory lectures, contends that the general diffusion of such knowledge, is the most powerful antitode to both professional and unprofessional empiricism, provided the teacher be fitted for his office. But will it be pretended that the igno- rance and credulity of our fellow citizens, have been already so far enlightened, and removed by the peripatetic lectures, on the nature of man, and the compilers of school books on physiology, that the necessity, which led to our foundation, has passed away ? If so_why do we not declare our occupation gone? Why does our charter still burden the records of the State ? Why do wp not at once relinquish to the Legislature, the immunities confer- red upon us, in consideration of the guardianship over the public health, which we have so solemnly agreed to exercise ? There is an ethical question involved in these considerations, which calls for serious reflection on the part of the society—does