A  DISCOURSE  ON  TITLES,  ETC. 
243 
tended  my  course  of  instruction  in  Pharmacy  and  seemed  to  have 
a  pretty  high  appreciation  of  my  knowledge  and  skill,  said  to 
me,  Why  don't  you  matriculate  in  some  medical  school  and  get 
the  title  of  M.  D.  to  add  to  your  name  ?  You  would  find  it  very 
promotive  of  your  reputation.  This  is  not  an  exclusively 
Southern  idea,  though  perhaps  more  general  in  those  communi- 
ties in  which  labor  is  least  respected  ;  it  pervades  somewhat  our 
practical  Northern  thought,  but  I  trust  is  diminishing  as  genuine 
republicanism  grows.  As  if  to  cure  any  undue  estimate  of  this 
title,  it  can  be  had  from  legally  authorized  Colleges  almost  for 
the  asking. 
In  medicine  several  kinds  of  pathies  are  represented  by  char- 
tered Colleges,  and  even  the  so-called  regular  practice  has  cheap 
concerns  sailing  under  the  name  of  Colleges  and  even  Universi- 
ties, duly  authorized  to  confer  the  M.  D.  upon  any  ignoramus 
who  may  seek  it  at  their  hands  almost  without  study — quite 
without  any  adequate  instruction.  Moreover,  anybody  who 
wants  to  present  to  the  public  his  valuable  cure  for  cancer  or 
consumption  may  prefix  Dr.  before  his  name  or  M.  D.  after  it, 
and  whether  the  title  came  to  him  through  the  formalities  of  a 
College  Commencement,  or  was  assumed  unasked  to  promote  the 
ends  of  his  business,  it  serves  as  a  handle  to  his  name  useful  in 
deceiving  the  most  ignorant,  but  of  no  account  in  the  estimation 
of  men  of  intelligence  and  good  sense. 
The  term  Professor  is  sometimes  put  very  prominently  before 
us  as  one  of  superior  distinction — a  still  larger  handle  to  the 
name.  We  have,  however,  professors  of  hair  cutting,  of  carpet 
shaking,  of  dancing,  and  of  the  "noble  art  of  self  defence,"  as 
well  as  of  medicine  or  surgery ;  and  if  we  may  judge  of  the 
public  appreciation  of  the  term  by  the  use  made  of  it  in  the 
newspapers,  it  has  a  much  wider  significance  than  that  of  men  of 
learning  or  science  appointed  to  the  office  of  teachers  by-incor- 
porated Colleges,  which  is  its  technical  definition. 
I  have  alluded  to  the  fact  that  among  us  competition  is  equally 
open  to  all  who  please  to  invest  the  necessary  energy  and  capital 
in  business.  We  have  colleges  of  Pharmacy  and  give  Diplomas, 
and  a  title  (which,  however,  is  not  commonly  used  ;)  and  although 
I  would  be  the  last  to  discourage  pharmaceutical  education  as 
