quackopaths

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from The Indian Household Medicine Guide

by J. I. Lighthall (1883)

 

Quackopaths

 

There is a class of doctors that are drawn from all the schools

of medicine that profess to be that which they are not. They may

possess diplomas, but they got them upon examination day, by some

student, that had studied hard and well and was naturally sharp,

helping them and cheating the professors. They never merited a

diploma. They spent their time in bar rooms and at billiard tables

when they should have been burning midnight oil over Gray's Anatomy,

or Huxley and Dalton's Physiology, in order that they might not

butcher poor suffering humanity, and have more knowledge of the human

system, and know better how to prescribe medicine to those who need

it, and therefore this being a fact, every one should be on their

guard. It is not the man that has the diploma that is always the

good doctor. I know several men that have no diplomas, that are

naturally inclined in that direction, that have good success, and are

men that study the human organization and the effects of medicine on

it, and try to improve their moments, in order that they may properly

fit themselves for usefulness, and to benefit humanity. From the

fact that so many force themselves through college, a diploma does

not always signify that they are fit to prescribe or issue medicine.

It is the man that makes medicine a study, and studies it constantly

and diligently, thinking for himself, reasoning from cause to effect,

using common sense in all things, and when he or they give medicine,

are sure they are right, and give it so it won't do any harm if it

does no good. There are more quacks that have diplomas than there

are quacks that have not. I once knew a doctor that thought himself

wise, and boasted over twenty-five yars experience, and when I asked

him about golden seal and black cohosh, he laughed at me, and said he

had never stooped so low; that they were simply granny remedies. God

pity such men.