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The moment he reaches this point, the wheels of his chariot are clogged. Go backwards he may, but to advance is not practicable. That I may not be thought singular in denouncing the abuse of calomel as little better, or rather no better, than poisoning, be it remembered that our best writers thus regard excessive salivation. Hence the repeated essays to show the pernicious effects of mercury, in every form, to establish in the system that exceedingly troublesome and often unmanageable product of calomel and other mercurials known by the appropriate name of mercurial disease. The ignorant and empirical use of the remedy lays the foundation of a morbid state, worse, in some respects, than the disease it was intended to remove. We allude not here to syphilis alone, but to a variety of acute and chronic affections, which, in the crude judgment of some practitioners, are curable only by salivation. Who does not know that, to save the trouble of reading and observation, hundreds of physicians pour in mercurial medicines for no other reason than because they suppose a foetid drain from the mouth for weeks or months will infallibly cure?

My readers doubtless recollect a short article that made its appearance in many of our newspapers not long since, in the shape of a denunciation of calomel. The authorship of this publication was reputed to have its location in the uppermost chair of the University of Pennsylvania; and even that elevated post did not prove a screen from the shafts of opposition, and, I may say, of malice. Very sudden, however, the vane turned completely round, and the poor Thompsonian had the lash applied most liberally for this mortal sin. Among the foremost to be severe in their denunciations, were some who profess to be champions of what is called Southern practice, just as if any kind of practice might be tolerated, right or wrong, on the naked score of latitude and longitude.

Now, I care not who wrote the article to which reference has been made, half so much as I care whether it be true. And as I profess to have as much respect for Southern practice in medicine as any other man, so far as that practice is correct, a quotation from an essay, written in the South twenty years ago by a gentleman of acknowledged talents, will be presented for the especial benefit of those who denounced Professor Chapman very recently, for similar sentiments and views, supposed to have been uttered by

him. The author, from whose paper I quote, has resided in Alabama more than twenty years, and, but for a chronic disease that has greatly enfeebled him, would, I doubt not, have been known several years ago as professor of theory and practice in one of the most respectable schools in America.

In the American Journal of Medical Science, Vol. 2, page 42 (1828), Dr. Heustis, then of Cahaba, Alabama, thus spoke: "The horrid spectacles frequently to be seen as the consequences of mercurial treatment, are shocking to humanity and disgraceful to the profession. Even were mercury the only alternative, that life is dearly purchased which is bought at the sacrifice of every thing that renders life desirable. The constitution is broken and destroyed; the person maimed and disfigured, so that it is scarcely recognized by the unfortunate sufferer himself-an object of pity and horror to his friends. Deprived of their teeth, or perhaps their jaws, we sometimes see these pitiable objects with distorted features, the cheeks and palate partly destroyed by mortification, and the remaining portions cicatrized into an unsightly knot, with the mouth twisted from its natural position, drawn obliquely toward the ear, and the lips and cheeks consolidated with the gums.

"Calomel is often given, to a great extent, during the continuance of a fever, without inducing any sensible effects; and it is only after the solution of the disease, when convalescence is about to ensue, that this latent poison breaks forth with tenfold violence. The patient who, a day or two previously, flattered himself with a speedy recovery, now finds himself sadly disappointed, and is doomed to undergo a factitious disease more tedious than the first."

But it may be said that further experience probably altered this Southern practitioner's views. Let us see. In 1836 he resided at Mobile, and, if living, is there still. I need not say that Mobile is a sickly post, as that point has been abundantly made out. In the same Medical Journal, Vol. 19, we find an essay from the same pen, in which, while the excellent virtues of calomel are noticed, he thus writes: "In this way (speaking of bilious fever) I have known an artificial disease produced and kept up by the daily exhibition of calomel; and because a flow of saliva was not excited, it was concluded that the medicine had not exerted its

specific effect, or not been given in sufficient quantity. It was therefore pushed further, and sloughing and mortification of the gums, cheeks and fauces, and death itself followed in the train. Let the young practitioner, therefore, beware of the dangerous rock on which so many lives have been prematurely lost."

Such is the testimony of an old Southern physician, in a Southern climate, touching the pernicious agency of calomel; not in syphilis, but in a disease peculiar to the climate. And if it were needful to add further testimony of a similar character, it could be adduced in abundance.

The distinguished British surgeon, Mr. Liston, says he does not believe that any man ever lost the bones of his head or face by syphilis alone. To mercury, chiefly, he attributes the result.

We may go even further, and say, that to put a man's system, needlessly, in such a condition as will expose him to the hazard of life, from mere contingencies, is so much like poisoning, that we have not a sufficient quantum of discriminating tact to point out the difference. And who does not know that a sudden exposure (perhaps unavoidable) to a cold rain has so violently affected the salivated man, as to cut short his days by a fatal metastasis? We are not ignorant that, under the wisest management, and contrary to the wishes of the physicians, his patient may be profusely salivated; but that belongs to the casualties, and differs wholly from the case of deliberate, intended, profuse salivation, as the sine qua non of cure.-Phil. Bulletin Med. Science, edited by Prof. Jno. Bell.

The "New Preparations" will hereafter be known as the Therapeutic Gazette. It will be devoted exclusively to therapeutics, edited by Dr. William Brodie, and published by Geo. S. Davis, Detroit, Mich. In its enlarged field, it will prove even more serviceable to the profession than in the past.

The closing exercises of the Eclectic Medical College of New York will take place on the evening of Thursday, February 26, 1880, and will be held at Masonic Hall, Sixth Avenue and Twenty-third Street. The friends of the college are respectfully invited to attend these exercises. The Alumni Association of this college will meet at the college building, at ten o'clock a. m., on Friday, February 27, 1880. All the members are requested to be present.

EDITORIAL NOTES AND SELECTIONS.

EDUCATED PHYSICIANS.

It is estimated that there are in the United States about forty thousand physicians, and of this number there are only about twenty thousand who have graduated at any medical college, and that the greater portion of the others have only attended one or more courses of medical lectures.

While we are willing to admit that some men may be well qualified to practice medicine without having attended medical lectures, it will not hold good as a general rule; for even under the most rigid regulations of medical colleges, the acquirements are even more superficial than are desirable, growing out of the fact that the time devoted to study, and the term occupied by a course of lectures in some medical colleges, are too short. It would be better both for the profession and the community if the term of study was increased very much, as well as the length of the course of medical lectures, which ought to be at least five or six months; and it would even be better if students would attend three or more courses before graduating, believing, as we do, that even then they would not have made too great proficiency in medical knowledge.

It may be said by some that this system of medical education would, in consequence of such a prolonged study, prevent many young men from engaging in the study of medicine. This might be the case in a few instances, but then those who did would be so much better qualified, that the number required would be proportionably less.

Custom requires a man to become qualified as a competent mechanic, to devote from three to six years constant and untiring application, while thousands of men consider themselves competent to discharge the duties of one of the most responsible and difficult professions, to the entire satisfaction of the community in which they reside, after a very short time of preparation, often not more than a few months; and such, too, are sometimes sustained and encouraged by a confiding people. This is calculated in itself to lower the standard of acquirements, and cause the death of thou

sands, by falling into the hands of those who are not competent to render aid in time of greatest danger.

It is time the profession was awakened to the great importance of a higher standard of medical attainments, and it is also time the public were looking into this matter for their own protection. They should, in every instance, claim the right to know of every physician, who has or may locate in their vicinity to practice medicine, what are his qualifications, how long he has studied, and whether he is a graduate of any medical college or not. The facilities for acquiring a medical education at this time are so great, that every man should be required to have obtained a liberal one before he begins to deal out drugs in the capacity of a physician.

We hope that, in every instance, when any one sets himself up as an Eclectic physician, he may be required by his patrons to produce evidence of his qualifications, and whether he is a graduate or not. If the people take this matter in hand, the reform will soon be accomplished, for it is they who are most interested. We will continue to appeal to both the people and the profession until our branch of it at least is fully represented by equally competent and educated physicians, and we hope to enjoy the co-operation of others in the profession in establishing this reform. Many are already engaged in the practice without having graduated, and find it hard to leave their business to attend college; others think it not necessary, and some complain of want of means. We will ask all such, if they feel they are following the convictions of their own minds upon this subject, in view of the responsible position they are assuming, when they must know that they are not prepared to practice medicine? We do really hope that no one engaging in the practice of medicine will fail to embrace the very first opportunity of attending a medical school, and continue until he becomes regularly and fully educated in his profession, and feels himself able to combat successfully the many destroyers of human life and health, and by all means pursue the study of legitimate medicine, and postpone the study of all auxiliaries until the first is accomplished.

The Medical News and Library has been combined with the Monthly Abstract, under the name of Medical News and Abstract.

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