234 TEE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



practise, which it behooves us to clear away. A keen criticism could 

 doubtless disclose much of ancient error and fetishism in our materia 

 medica and therapeutics and our pathological conceptions of obscure 

 diseases. The entire profession does not even yet willingly and unre- 

 servedly accept the scientific element in internal medicine. The neces- 

 sity and duty of thoroughly scientific methods in surgical and obstetrical 

 practise is generally appreciated ; but the obligation for equally thorough 

 and scientific diagnosis and treatment in internal medicine is not so 

 generally recognized. On the contrary, there is rather prevalent a spirit 

 of disparagement and deprecation of what are called scientific methods, 

 and insinuations are frequently made that they are not practical or use- 

 ful. This spirit possibly arises not so much from frank conviction as 

 from indisposition to keep fully abreast of the rapid developments in 

 medicine, and a latent jealousy of those more advanced. That scientific 

 methods in medicine (aside from those purely academic) are unpractical 

 and useless is diametrically contrary to the reality; since it is such 

 methods alone that have gained, and are gaining, and can gain for 

 medicine all the real efficiency that it possesses. It is to me incon- 

 ceivable that any methods in rational medicine can be other than truly 

 scientific in their essence; sectarians, and laymen, and quacks can 

 practise non-scientific medicine, but not true physicians. Our patients 

 are entitled to the best possible service available, whatever be the char- 

 acter of any procedure that may be of use; and nothing short of this 

 best is good enough for either the patient or the conscientious practi- 

 tioner. 



If a trained medical profession has only just found enlightenment, 

 it can not be expected that the great untrained public will yet have 

 emerged from medieval darkness in matters medical. The general 

 public at the present time is actuated by the identical speculative spirit 

 that for ages and until recently exercised its blighting control over the 

 medical profession. A realization of this fact explains much that now 

 seems anomalous and vexatious, and points the way of future betterment. 



In many quarters the attitude of the public toward the medical 

 profession is one of misunderstanding, distrust and antagonism. Fads 

 and sects, like homeopathy, osteopathy and christian science, have a 

 large and influential following, including the most intelligent and 

 respectable members of the community. The hold which these (to us) 

 irrational beliefs have on the public seems amazing and exasperating; 

 yet the profession has only recently been emancipated from systems of 

 precisely the same character — too recently for the public yet to have 

 followed. Our customary attitude toward sectarianism is one of ridi- 

 cule and denunciation ; an attitude which produces infinitesimal results. 

 These popular beliefs are not the product of perversity or wickedness, 

 but result from powerful tendencies in human nature — the proneness 



