QUACKERY WITHIN THE PROFESSION. 681 



QUACKEKY WITHIN THE PROFESSION. 



THE profession is probably unaware of the progress steadily made 

 by medical quackery in its diverse forms and disguises. Quack- 

 ery which is not medical in the sense of being practiced by duly 

 qualified men is undoubtedly an evil, but its consequences are not 

 comparable with the effects of such quackery as is growing apace 

 within our own ranks, and slowly it may be, but surely, undermining 

 the resj)ect and confidence which the profession has hitherto deserved 

 and received from the public. We sometimes wonder that our calling 

 does not command the warm recognition in certain quarters to which 

 it seems entitled For a sufficient explanation of this default in the 

 estimation of society, let us look to the prevailing and almost daily in- 

 creasing popularity of " systems " and " cures " tacitly, if not avow- 

 edly, supported or countenanced by the profession. There is a senti- 

 mental and mock-heroic spirit abroad which burlesques the candor of 

 " truth-seeking," and even mimics the impulses of chivalry. We hesi- 

 tate to condemn any system, " lest there should be some good in it," 

 and we are too tender-hearted and polite to deal honestly by its pro- 

 moters, even though we recognize the fallacy of their pretensions, and 

 more than suspect their motives. This is not a faithful line of con- 

 duct in reference to our profession, nor is it loyal to science, which is 

 one of the many constituent parts and aspects of truth. We know, or 

 ought to know, that a perfectly just and truthful conception of the 

 science of medicine must bar the recognition of systems and cures of 

 any class or description. The art of healing is not a system, and can 

 never be made one. It is simply an intelligent application of the laws 

 of health in the remedy of disease. We study the " symptoms " of a 

 malady with a view to the acquisition of precise knowledge as to its 

 nature, course, and rational treatment. We pursue the investigation 

 of disease over the boundary-line of death, and explore the cadaver 

 with a view to ascertain the effect of the morbid state on the organ- 

 ism and to elicit its organic causes, albeit we too commonly confound 

 effects with causes. We test the powers and analyze the constitu- 

 tion of drugs, and we scrutinize and make careful trial of methods 

 of treatment, to obtain a reasonable acquaintance with their natures 

 and actions. In brief, we take any amount of trouble and resort to 

 every means at our disposal to render the principles and practice of 

 our art rational. This is our duty, and it is the only method con- 

 sistent with self-respect and professional integrity ; but, if side by 

 side with this policy, we cherish a spirit of credulity which renders 

 us ever ready to countenance systems of which we can know noth- 

 ing because there is nothing to know and take a false pride in 

 showing friendliness to quacks and charlatans, the good work we our- 



