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What is the reason, I have been asked, so few of the Indiana physicians 

 are members of the Indiana Academy of Science? If physicians are scien- 

 tific men, why are so few members of the Academy? My usual reply is 

 that our pliysicians are so busy fighting disease and giving relief to the 

 sick that they have no time — such a reply satisfies many and places the 

 doctors in a good light. But sueli a reply does not quite fit in case of the 

 question : Why are so many doctors ]iot members of a progressive medical 

 society? Or, Why do so few contribute to the scientific medical literature 

 of the State? Pei-haps a brief review of the evolution of medicine in In- 

 diana will enable us to draw some just conclusions. 



As sciences do not spring up suddenly, bxit are a matter of slow growth, 

 so likewise the accumulated stock of knowledge is not suddenly transferred 

 to a new country ; it takes a long time to bring it in, and our State is no 

 exception. 



The Primitive Medxcune Man : The primitive medicine man was the 

 first to differentiate from the race; Avhen all hunted and fished, he alone 

 stood apart and in tlie course of time separated more and more. As knowl- 

 edge was brought together, there was a further differentiation, sciences 

 crystallized out and pursued independent courses — but in their application 

 are always of benefit to man. Wiiere the early medicine man held all 

 the Ivuovviedge of his race or tribe, in the course of time there arose a 

 number of learned men. The man who studied the stars in time developed 

 into an astrologer and later on into an astronomer, just as the herbalist 

 developed in time into a pharmacist or botanist. (The diagram is intended 

 to sho\v' this relationship in a general way. The survival of old time be- 

 liefs and methods of treating diseases being represented by a line parallel 

 to the development of the race, we need only think of the use of charms 

 and amulets, of faith-cures, the administration of nauseous drugs, and so 

 on, to gain an idea of how much still survives.) 



Indian Medicine Man: The native Indian medicine man belonged to 

 a race still in the childhood of civilization, a race in the hunting and fishing 

 stage, and his beliefs and methods of ti-ealing disease were on a level with 

 such a stage ; moreover at the time the wliite man first came in, the Indians 

 had few diseases to contend A^-ith. Contrary to the popular belief, the 

 modern physician can learn notliing from the Indian medicine man, though 

 the life of the Indian can teach hi;ii many tilings pertaining to the value 

 of simple food, pure water and air, with out-of-door exei'cise. 



