THEIR BEST SAFEG UARD 
Against Imposition in the Practice of Medicine 
By Tiios. X. Reynolds, M. D 
DETROIT: 
Reprinted from Transactions of Michigan State 
Medical Society 
1878 THEIR BEST SAFEGUARD 
Against Imposition in the Practice of Medicine 
13 y Tiios. X. Reynolds, M. D.. 
DETROIT: 
Reprinted from Transactions of Michigan State 
Medical Society 
1878 MEDICAL EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE 
THEIR BEST SAFEGUARD. 
T. N. REYNOLDS, M. D., OF DETROIT. 
Iii view of the fact that there is still in the world the most extra- 
ordinary misconception with regard to the true functions of medi- 
cines and medical men, it may not seem wholly unfit that we 
should somewhat briefly advert to it here. 
As it existed among the people in earlier times, it amuses us now 
perhaps more than it surprises us ; and when we recognize it still 
here and there among those in lowly favored circumstances of life, 
it usually makes little or no impression upon us ; hut when we so 
often see it among the refined and cultured of our time we are 
sometimes led to inquire why it is. But this misconception is not 
confined entirely to the laity or to the crude charlatan, but more or 
less pervades the educated and legitimate medical fraternity itself ; 
and it is no uncommon thing to see among the younger members 
of our pi’ofession men confidently attributing to medicines par- 
ticular cures that they never produced. And even the older prac- 
titioners, with quite an abiding faith, sometimes prescribe remedies 
that serve little more than to mutually satisfy the mind of the 
patient and the doctor that the necessary and essential thing has 
been done in the premises. 
This undue credit to the effect of the drugs prescribed, when it 
occurs among medical men, probably arises mostly from the habit 4 
and routine of always prescribing in certain approved manners in 
certain kinds of cases ; and when improvement takes place, forget- 
ting to allow sufficiently for the healing power of time and nature 
herself. 
As it occurs in the masses of the laity, however, when they 
throw themselves unreservedly upon the mercies of some of the 
many artful impostors of the day, or, almost regardless of the man, 
cling to some of the schools of medicine or forms of treatment 
with an ardor that often amounts to fanaticism, it seems to arise 
from the fact that there is still in man an inherent tendency to rely 
alone on some mysterious or supernatural intervention in behalf of 
his physical as well as his spiritual welfare. Men in a great measure 
seem not ready to act upon the idea that while there may occur at 
times special and supernatural intervention in behalf of our spiritual 
welfare, it is nevertheless probable that the greatest amount of 
mental enjoyment is only obtained by the greatest amount of 
willing obedience to those social and moral laws of life which pro- 
duce it. So with regard to our physical being, men largely rely 
upon medical aid and supernatural protection, and neglect to 
observe and conform to those natural laws which regulate and 
govern the functions of our organism in health and in disease. 
With medical men the hope to at last hit upon the lucky remedy 
or successful plan has in all ages led to the adoption, at times, of 
many absurd modes of treatment \ that have been discarded after 
more careful observation and riper experience—sometimes to 
excessive dosing and too heroic treatment; and sometimes to the 
other extreme, as in the high dilutions once generally indorsed and 
still sometimes used by some of those who pursue what is called the 
homeopathic plan. 
When, then, there are in the minds of those who devote them- 5 
selves specially to the science and practice of medicine so many 
absurd notions with regard to it, and so much faith in much of it 
that is not warranted in fact, it is not a wonder that the masses, 
and even the educated portions of the laity, should treat us now 
and then, as they do, to such sublime exhibitions of their faith in 
some particular drug, plan of treatment, or school of medicine, 
while they evince often only very little knowledge or concern as 
to the proficiency or character of the man himself prescribing it. 
As nothing but hard-learned experience and frequently disap- 
pointed hopes in his scientific prescriptions will ever thoroughly 
convince the young practitioner of their frequent inutility, so 
nothing but the proper kind of education on these matters will 
ever convince the people of their frequent too gueat confidence in 
the efficacy of drugs alone. 
To this end, the study of anatomy, physiology, hygiene, and par- 
ticularly the laws of life, with the influence thereon of habits, con- 
ditions and surroundings, should enter largely into, and be assidu- 
ously carried all the way through the education of the young, even 
if it be to the exclusion of almost no matter what other branch 
besides. And if the use of drugs be referred to at all in their 
education, it should be with an especial care that they be taught the 
facts as they are—that the essential and useful drugs are really 
few and their administration rarely necessary; that in the aggre- 
gate in the world it is probable enough that more harm is being 
yearly done by their indiscriminate and unskilled use than there is 
good by their timely and judicious employment. 
Physicians can do much more than is usually done in this direc- 
tion by their individual influence in practice. Each physician 
should constantly endeavor to establish in the minds of his patrons 
the fact that they should seek intelligent opinions and skilled 6 
advice more than prescriptions. And even at an occasional risk of 
losing patronage, when medicine is not required at all, he shoidd 
dare to say so, and give the right advice instead. Doctors should 
be educators more than physicmongers. Whatever time the occa- 
sion demands should be taken to fully explain the trouble for which 
persons present themselves, and the best regulation of living to be 
adopted under the circumstances; and for this opinion and advice 
alone, when kindly given, they should and generally will expect to 
pay. 
Physicians should endeavor at all times to divest their practice 
of every appearance of mystery; and in this connection they 
should certainly abolish the common practice of retiring from the 
family and holding private conversation after having seen a patient 
in consultation. They should rather insist on some members of 
the family or persons most concerned being present when conversa- 
tion may not advantageously be had with the patient; otherwise 
such mysterious movements and awe-inspiring manners tend not at 
all to enlighten, but very much to becloud the minds of many 
people, and leave them a more ready prey to the quack, who can as 
well, and always does with effect imitate those and all kindred mys- 
terious ceremonies. 
Physicians can with the utmost politeness to each other and the 
very kindest consideration for the opinions of each, discuss condi- 
tions and agree on treatment in the presence of some of those con- 
cerned; and it is the people’s right to see and know exactly what 
their physician thinks and does in their case either alone or in con- 
sultation. 
If imposition and quackery are ever removed or lessened at all, it 
will be in exact proportion to the amount of correct information 
and thorough enlightenment the people may obtain on this entire 7 
subject, for it can never avail very much that a few educated and 
honorable practitioners labor to bring the comparative few whom 
they reach up to a reasonable and correct estimation of the practice 
of medicine, while the masses remain unable to discriminate 
between the imaginary and what is real in it, or between the artful 
and unscrupulous pretender and the genuine medical man. As long 
as there is a general and popular demand for the different forms of 
quackery, there will always be found an ample supply; and legisla- 
tion, though necessary and good as far as it goes, can never entirely 
prevent it. The early and continued education of each individual 
on the subject is the only successful remedy. 
And since none can see and feel as well as physicians the need of 
the people with regard to it, it becomes us and would seem our 
direct and humane duty to interfere, and move to the extent of our 
opportunity in establishing if possible somewhat of a medical 
education in all the common schools throughout the country. This 
is perfectly practicable, and probably would be nowhere unfavor- 
ably received. 
Let the people become properly and generally enlightened on the 
medical subject, and we will not see them cajoled and carried away 
with extravagant advertisements and pretentious modes of cure, 
nor even hear them ask much more concerning a physician: “Is 
he a homeopath or an allopath ? ” but only hear them inquire of 
him, as they should of one assuming that capacity: “Is he simply 
an educated, trained, ingenious, industrious, and in every way com- 
petent and upright medical man ? ” 
88 Lafayette Ave.