An address to the annual convention of the Medical Society of Connecticut, convened at Hartford, May 10, 1837 / By Thomas Miner.

  • Thomas Miner
Date:
1837
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An address to the annual convention of the Medical Society of Connecticut, convened at Hartford, May 10, 1837 / By Thomas Miner. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    fully exposed in market. They direct the examination of all offi- cers of the army and navy, previous to their receiving commissions. In most countries, they examine the qualifications of gentlemen of the bar, to prevent clients from being imposed on by pettifoggers. ‘They commonly insist upon the examination of teachers, before they can become lawful instructors. In most parts of the civilized world, even a common trade cannot be exercised, unless the master has complied with certain forms, which amount to a strict examination. All these regulations are designed for the benefit of the people in general, and not directly for the benefit of the trades or professions. It is supposed that individuals could not have time, if they possessed sufficient knowledge, to examine the quality of every barrel of flour, beef, pork, and fish, that they buy, before purchasing them. Nor is jt wished to have the client lose his suit, to discover that he has employed an incompetent advocate ; or for schooling to be found to be worse than useless, from having employed an imcompetent teacher. I can see no reason, why the health of the community, and con- sequently public protection against ignorant and unprincipled pre- tenders—for pure quacks, whatever good qualities they may some- times possess, from the very nature of the case must always be ~ knaves, since they only flourish by the falsest pretensions and most barefaced impositions—are not a subject of legal regulation, as much as the army, navy, schools, trades, manufactures, and in a word every other matter, in which individuals are either unable or indis- posed to protect themselves. , Besides, no power on earth can give a quack or other impostor a moral right to his fraudulent gains ; should the State, therefore, from mistaken policy, legalize his claims, it would amount to granting a bounty to dishonesty, and as far as it goes would serve to sap the principles of morality. It is impossible to change the moral aspect of empiricism, or of any other fraud, whatever may be the supposed policy, as to legislative interference. A quack cannot be converted into an honest man, by any law whatever, much less can he be made learned against his will. The matter of right, in my view, therefore, is set at rest. It is sometimes found, however, in this imperfect world, to be a matter of policy and expediency to waive many of our important rights, as the enforcing of them, as valuable as they may be, might be a greater inconvenience, than to justify the expense of their defense. It is even supposed advisable occasionally not to prosecute crimes of considerable magnitude. The principle rather applies to the cau- tious removal of old abuses, than to opening the door to new offenses. We may be in such haste in ripping off the superfluous lace, as to be in danger of tearing the coat. Upon this point of expediency, I frankly acknowledge, there has been, at times, a considerable varia- tion In my own opinion. I shall not, therefore, pretend to speak very positively, upon this part of the subject, but content myself with making a few suggestions.
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