Anent an Urgent Duty of the Profession. 
BY 
B. OETT1NGER, M. D. 
DENVER. 
Read before the Colorado State Medical Society. 
1899 ANENT AN URGENT DUTY OP THE PROFESSION. 
B. OETTINGER, M. D., DENVER. 
While the medical bill for which executive assent was re- 
cently withheld, ostensibly failed to become a law because it 
lacked this official approval, that which really decided its fate, 
and, of equal importance, the difficulty that would have been en- 
countered in its enforcement in case the bill had become a state 
law, may be attributed to superficial judgment born of a wide- 
spread dearth of knowledge, to a considerable public opinion 
into which there enters no intelligent conception of the laws of 
health and disease, as well as to a cast of mind common to many 
persons in our communities who know no more of the facts 
proven by the science of biology than perhaps the name given to 
its successive developmental phases, and which even in such a 
case is tersely supposed to mean that “man is descended from 
the monkey.” 
To-day, as in all times past, in the wake of that method of in- 
vestigation which ignores exact objective research and wholly 
relies upon interrogating self-consciousness, there necessarily 
follows a philosophy based upon facile imagination and ofttimes 
much empty pride. Such a system adopts the metaphysical 
idea that since man stands for a separate and distinct work in the 
creation, bearing dominion over all other life-forms on account 
of a pristine innate superiority, and is, in short, as has been said, 
“the measure of the universe,” the study of his being can have 
nothing in common with that of living things lower in the 4 
scale of life, but must needs be solely directed towards ferreting 
man’s resemblance to an indulgent Creator, who, by according 
him so exalted an earthly place, has thus evidenced an exceeding 
preference. With due appreciation of a principle that has been 
the inspiration of much exalted human effort, we nevertheless 
may not shut our eyes to the fact that, whatever the progress in 
the study of the relation of man to his Creator from Aristotle’s 
time to our own, such advance attained as the result of purely 
subjective modes of investigation has not materially influenced 
man’s life-experience or his conceptions concerning it. On the 
other hand, in reference to the latter, scientific research conse- 
quent to the development theory of Darwin, presented evidence 
which proved man’s relation to lower life-forms and environment; 
and thus it happens that all that stands for the best of modern 
psychology, where not based upon, at least pursues its investiga- 
tions within lines which are compatible with, established struct- 
ural and physiological data—and this despite the fact that even 
in our day we may note the efforts of ill-trained minds of meta- 
physical trend who talk in beautifully rounded circles, and much, 
of the sole existence of spirit and mind, and yet are content to 
dismiss the theory of evolution with twenty words. 
The physician of to-day needs be interested in these condi- 
tions as the representative of a branch of natural science whose 
teachings are in strict accord with the truths of evolution; more- 
over, because he may daily note that adherence to the belief in 
the miraculous of which some pretenders cunningly make use 
by publishing in the name of medical science, and with occa- 
sional coarseness of diction that violates public decency,untruths 
meant to intimidate. Others attract their followers by the ex- 
ploitation of some one principle of therapy, elaborated into a sys- 
tem which is guaranteed to cure all disease. And lastly, the phy- 
sician’s interest is demanded because he must remark the rapid 
growth of a sect whose founder, entertaining theories which have 
much in common with some systems of idealism and principles 
propounded by mystic schools, has adapted them, in general, to 
the history of that religious revolution whose eventual outcome 5 
was Christianity, in particular, to the cure of disease, and, by an- 
nouncing these principles as new, relies upon the superficial edu- 
cation and the active imagination of her followers to do the 
rest. 
No one of us but claims that the modern physician more 
than fulfills the place of a mere dispenser of drugs, and that the 
surgeon uses the knife upon other grounds than did the mediaeval 
barber. By the same token, aside from his particular office to 
advance ideas and evolve sound plans to promote the status of 
public health and by his knowledge to contribute to the useful- 
ness and well being of the individual, the physician must assist 
in holding aloft, for its own sake, the banner of truth in the 
march of human progress. I am well aware that in pursuing 
such an ideal he is met with prejudice and superstitious credulity 
among classes of men and women who, perhaps successful -within 
the narrow limits of their endeavors, are often erroneously re- 
garded as representative; or by persons that in the process of 
devouring much print, in which is included the wonderful med- 
ical novel as well as the pseudo scientific and psychologic, become 
permeated with fashionable fads upon which is based much com- 
placent erudition. Another class, considerably less dangerous 
however, who passively oppose scientific progress, are the truly 
illiterate, who swallow whole the self-announced deeds of the 
wonder-workers, be they the delusions of a sect, or the knowing 
frauds of advertising fakirs alleged for pure gain. 
I am no less aware that these facts are tacitly recognized by 
the profession, and that, conscious of its duties within its accepted 
domain, it has rightly been averse to place itself upon a level 
with many of its decriers. • If we have been unwilling to discuss 
facts which are daily being disclosed by the study of pathology 
with individuals wTho, from one point of view or another, oppose 
its tenets, assuredly it has been because such discussion could 
scarcely be intelligent or intelligible if one’s opponent be entirely 
without knowledge of his subject. One does not require skilled 
labor, nor ask an opinion concerning it, of the unskilled. If the 
world recognizes any value whatever in human knowledge and 6 
the pursuit of it, it must manifestly be impossible to class the 
work of the advertising quack, or the efforts of the clod of yes- 
terday but the healer of to-day, with the applied knowledge of 
the educated physician. This is, in fact, the point to be made 
in taking our stand for the profession—be it in delineating the 
position of modern medicine and surgery in general, or in stating 
our case for legislation beneficial to the public health, or in mak- 
ing a plea for the advancement of the latter and for views of fair 
and balanced minds upon lines that will be suggested by this pa- 
per. I think this reasonable argument has not been sufficiently 
urged in the past. Of equal importance is the fact that many 
erroneous views are countenanced by the public because the en- 
ergies of medical men, while zealously applied within the limits 
of their accepted sphere, nevertheless fail to keep the profession 
in sufficient touch with the growth and direction of public 
opinion concerning medical science. The fact that certain per- 
sons who are unable to competently judge of the merits and de- 
merits of the present status of the latter, or others who are 
actuated solely by mercenary motives, by diverse methods do at- 
tempt to gain the good will of the public at large, is doubtless 
the main reason that legitimate physicians refrain from so 
doing. Yet it must be deemed a grave error to thus build a 
Chinese wall about ourselves, and to neglect to employ reputable 
means at our command to enlighten the people as to views held 
by educated physicians and the reasons therefor. Were this done 
there would be fewer anti-vivisectionists, fewer persons pos- 
sessed of considerable information concerning many other mat- 
ters who stand pat with the oft-heard cant statement, “All med- 
icine is an experiment.” 
How may we reach the public? We may in a measure be 
guided by the charlatans and the religious enthusiasts, for they 
have studied well the methods that may be best employed. The 
former advertise in the daily papers. I found that upon Sunday, 
May 1, 1899, a date selected at random, a fraction over 28 per 
cent, of the total amount of advertising that appeared in one of 
our leading morning dailies was paid for by medical quacks. 7 
clairvoyants, and others of that ilk. Shall we advertise in the 
daily papers? Certainly not; but a representative medical body 
might, as it sees fit, employ their columns to legitimately dissem- 
inate truths established by scientific research. That religious 
sect of mushroom growth that purports to heal the sick by deny- 
ing the existence of disease makes proselytes by aid of free lec- 
tures, delivered throughout the country by special representa- 
tives. Through the same media, with demonstration of facts and 
an appeal to reason instead of the imagination, it behooves us to 
educate the people in the matter of a reasonable discrimination 
of cases. 
Our first need relates to a proper organization of the medical 
profession of the state, by counties or in any other systematic 
way, whose object shall be the widespread promulgation of some 
essential scientific data. Beginning as have all movements which 
have ultimately been successful, let there be small meetings 
where, in the light of patent fraud or the physiological basis 
upon which they rest, let there be explained the fallacy of mod- 
ern miracles. Let there be free distribution from the office of 
the association of pamphlets explaining specific cases. Let the 
searchlight of common sense be thrown upon that therapeutic 
marvel relating to special principles of massage which its dis- 
ciples teach was revealed by cadaverous study upon the plains 
of the noble red man and his victims, and whose claims for rec- 
ognition are presented by quite the most picturesque balderdash 
of any quack body. Again, let the dogma that “there is no life, 
truth, intelligence, or substance in matter” be applied to the rela- 
tion of man’s senses to his every environment, and thus, by an 
absolute and universal denial of their evidence, permit the prin- 
ciple to lead, as it logically must, to the conclusion that the ex- 
istence of insane delusions presents no evidence of an abnormal 
mind. 
As a means employed by many influential and representative 
societies, let this body of physicians publish an attractive sheet 
devoted to the interests of modern medical science in its relation 
to the public at large. 8 
The cost of placing such an organization upon a working 
basis would not require a large sum of money, since it would 
almost entirely be confined to the expense of placing its utter- 
ances before the people. Volunteers would not be lacking when 
the need of concerted action on the part of the profession, upon 
lines at least approximating those which have been designated, 
were once clearly comprehended. Modern medicine’s proper 
status can never be attained by legislation alone; since enforce- 
ment of the latter needs be supported by an intelligent and ap- 
preciative public opinion, a factor which, under existing condi- 
tions, will scarcely be created by efforts that will emanate from 
any other source than our own ranks. 
These suggestions may appear radical, but I plead in justifi- 
cation therefor a firm conviction that the medical profession 
of to-day has a clear and pressing duty aside from its accepted 
field of labor. May it be generally recognized and ultimately 
performed with a well directed zeal born of active and most 
hearty cooperation.