Dr. James H. Miller's "Thompsonalgia" report to the trustees of the Baltimore County Alms House, with comments : preceded by a few introductory remarks relating to the same / by the Committee of Correspondence of the Thomsonian Friendly Botanic Society of Maryland.

  • Miller, J. H. (James Henry), 1788-1853.
Date:
[1836?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dr. James H. Miller's "Thompsonalgia" report to the trustees of the Baltimore County Alms House, with comments : preceded by a few introductory remarks relating to the same / by the Committee of Correspondence of the Thomsonian Friendly Botanic Society of Maryland. 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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    ofsu~h be circulated, and make them known to the Committee of Correspond- ence ; but no information could be had respecting the case; nor could the name of the reckless administerer of steam and peppered spirits be ascertained ; hence no other alternative was left us, but a direct application to Dr. Miller, to furnish it together with his place of residence. With this view the following Id- ler was addressed and personally delivered to him at his office, on the evening of the same day in which it was written: Baltimore, January 16, 1836. Sir:—After so minute a detail as you have been able to furnish the board of Trustees of the Baltimore County Alms House, of the pepper, steamed and No. 6. case, treated by you in May,1835, and which terminated fatally, it is scarcely to be presumed that you did not make yourself acquainted with the name of the reckless and daring operator. It is probable there may be unauthorised or incompetent persons among the Thomsonian right holders, who sometimes act as physicians; and no doubt others may have assumed the practice from either good motives, or with a view to private emolument, as yon concede that it is a popular impiricism, (although in your estimation, the il cobbling of old shoes J' would be a more profitable em- ployment,) hence if such be the case, we are constrained to acknowledge there may be quacks among the Thomsonians, as well as among the diplomatized regular physicians. It is, however, our honest and sincere desire to caution and guard the public against such characters; and with this view we respectfully so- licit the name (and place of residence, if known to you,) of the individual above alluded to. As early an answer as may be convenient without encroaching upon the time necessarily devoted to your professional duties, will be duly appreciated, and may be left at the residence of any of the undersigned, or lodged in the post of- fice under cover, directed to either. With due respect, your ob't servants, PHILIP REIGART. ) L. FRAILEY, I n ... cn MICHAEL LAMB, I Committee of Correspon- ROBERT NEILSON, }> Jence, Thorn Friendly rAC, or.nrv Botanic Society ot Ma- JAS. SEARLY, ■ , J WM. J. ALCOCK, ryland- THOMAS MORGAN, Dr. J. H. Miller. Up to the 30th inst. no reply was received to our communication. Having waited 14 days, we came to the conclusion that, for reasons best known to that high dignitary, the pauper physician and professor, Jas. H. Miller, we were not deserving of his notice. Consequently we have been impelled to give amore ex- tensive circulation to his report than was perhaps designed; and thus essentially aid him in spreading his fame beyond the limits of the poor-house farm and the learned faculty, accompanied by such comments as the nature of the case seemed to justify. We publish it the more readily, from a desire of letting the people know, what the most malignant of our enemies ind persecutors have to say against us, that by our conduct and by our acts, more especially, they may be enabled correctly to judge and testify in our favour and place the seal of rep- robation upon the assertions of interested calumniators. Why this murderous affair has been concealed from public knowledge, from the first day of May, 1835, to the 6th of January, 1836, is inexplicable. Perhaps the well known thrift and economy of the people from the land of steady Jm have taught the Dr. a lesson. If he had published it at a certain date itifl perhaps have cost him a trifle, and hence he preferred chronicling his mecncal dignity and fame to the world, by taxing the very individuals whom he vituper- ates, with a portion of the expense. This bantling of the Dr. partakes of the na-