"The object in writing these pages is to teach the public at large to discriminate between the legitimate, duly-qualified practitioner and the legion of charlatans who infest every important city and town of the United States, and particularly New York. That this is a subject of the gravest importance cannot for a moment be doubted when it is considered that, dating from our entrance into the world, 'from the cradle to the grave,' we too often require the valuable services of the accoucheur, doctor, surgeon, or physician, in consequence of departing from Nature's laws, increased state of civilization, and overtaxed condition of the mental and bodily systems, necessitating from time to time the knowledge and attendance of the medical man. Under these circumstances it behooves each individual to be placed on his guard, so as to be made cognizant of the means to detect the nefarious, unqualified, and dishonest charlatans, in order to save the one in search of health from falling in their meshes, and thus jeopardize the welfare of his nearest and dearest objects. The laws of the country, public opinion, and private information, have and are doing much to save the reputations of those who have made choice of the medical profession, thereby exposing themselves to be placed on a level with some with whose names we will not soil our pages, _nor indirectly offer the advantages of publicity_, for it has well been remarked that to be mentioned with disparagement is to these preferable to not being mentioned at all, and thus it very often happens that the veil to hide a motive is so flimsy that even the uninitiated are unable to catch a glimpse at the mystery within." Here are the strains of another disinterested Mentor in the same field, who once had an office on West Twenty-second street in New York City: "Country patients are informed that they can have the necessary remedies sent to any address, or directed to be left at an Express Office _till called for_, in a portable compass. The medicines are carefully packed, _and free from observation_; and may be taken without confinement or any restraint. Patients should be as _minute_ as possible in the details of their symptoms, age, general habits of living and occupation in life. _The Communication must be accompanied by the usual_ CONSULTATION FEE OF FIVE DOLLARS, which may be sent in bank note, or by Post-office order, without which no notice can be taken of the application. In all cases _secrecy is to be considered as inviolable_, all letters being, if requested, either returned to the writers, or destroyed.