EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
217 
It may be objected that all this has reference to the 
other profession, and is placing the standard too high for 
us. We do not think so, being convinced that it is only 
by education we can hope to continue to advance. A 
person not possessing both a love for the profession and a 
mind fitly cultivated for an acquirement of knowledge in 
connection with it, should not attempt to enter upon its 
study, as he can neither excel in it nor promote its progress, 
but, contrariwise, he will retard it. It is this which has too 
frequently given to the mere pretender an advantage ; for 
quackery is as rife now as ever it was, and the ignorant man 
as presuming, while the public, not being themselves suffi¬ 
ciently taught, have been imposed upon by the designing. 
The means to obviate a continuance of this are simple 
enough—Educate, educate, educate ! With the following 
strictures we heartily concur : 
“ It is humiliating to observe that, notwithstanding the 
wide diffusion of education, the efforts of the clergy to evan¬ 
gelise, and the marvellous progress of true science and its 
application to the arts, how the majority of the people of this 
highly civilised country still cling to superstitious delusions, 
and what a greedy ear they give to all kinds of charlatanry 
which appeal to their egotism and self-love, and which, at the 
same time, pretend to be occult or abstruse. 
No system of humbug, however absurd, but has its army 
of devoted followers. Witness the popular delusions known 
as Homoepathy, Mesmerism, Palmistry,Spirit-rapping, Table¬ 
turning, divination of character from handwriting, Phre¬ 
nology, &c. 
Homoepathy, of all descriptions of quackery, is perhaps the 
most respectable, since it has its negative virtues. Simple 
globules of sugar-of-milk, made in bushels at a time, and 
distributed into little glass tubes, variously labelled f Nux 
Vomica/ f Dulcamara/ 4 Rhus Toxicodendron/ &c., &c., 
can do no harm, but, by weaning the nervous hypochondriac 
from abusing the use of positive medicines may do much 
good, whilst the rules enjoined as to regimen, diet, and exer¬ 
cise, will aid nature in effecting a cure. Most of the other 
delusions named, are positively demoralising, and therefore 
injurious.” 
To some the pleasure seems as great 
In being cheated as to cheat.” 
