The Healthy Life, Vol. V, Nos. 24-28: The Independent Health MagazineVarious
Science
The Healthy Life, Vol. V, Nos. 24-28: The Independent Health Magazine
Various
Health -- Periodicals; Medicine, Popular -- Periodicals; Nutrition -- Periodicals
It must not be forgotten that we owe many valuable discoveries of
medical science to qualified members of the profession, just as
discoveries of mechanical science are made by men working at their
respective trades. We have sorrowfully to admit, however, that nearly
all the great achievements upon which medicine plumes herself are in
the direction of increasing the doctors' power over his patient, and
seldom of giving his patient power over disease. It is also true that
the advocacy by unorthodox members of the profession of simple and
natural remedies often involves them in a charge of charlatanism, and
subjects them to persecution by medical associations.
If the medical profession were all that it is supposed to be, it might
be good that the reformer should suffer in solitude while his
experiments and methods were subjected to adequate tests and
criticism. If the associated physicians and surgeons jealously guarded
the public from quackery while they impartially investigated every
fresh discovery, the true reformer would welcome the protection
afforded him from the "counter-currents of senseless clamour" within
the doctors' own ranks, occasioned by party and vested interests.
It may be true that "loneliness tends to save the Seer from becoming a
charlatan and to make of him a true Reformer." But it is not that
peculiar loneliness of the Seer that the medical trade unions afford
the reforming physician. That is inevitably and sufficiently accorded
him by the "unwillingness of the masses to enter into the thoughts of
the Seers."[19] An ignorant and inert people will always follow a
charlatan, because they like to do things which are mysterious and
involve no trouble on their part.
[19] The reason "Why the Prophet should be lonely" is perfectly
elaborated in a chapter under that title in _Logic Taught by Love_,
from which I have quoted.
The Seer among doctors is boycotted by his fellow medicos _after_ he
and his co-workers have tested their experiments for themselves,
weeded out what is false from what is true, and proved their methods
to be right. Not only that, but too often it turns out that it is
proper food selection, cleanliness, personal effort and restraint
advocated by doctors as substitutes for serums and drugs, which
excites the opprobrium of medical coteries. Whereas, the misguided
Serum Specialist, who ought to be saved from himself, and from whom
the public ought to be protected, is given full medical honours--and
facilities to become that most dangerous type of charlatan, the
licensed one.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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