The danger, irrationality, and evils of medical quackery : also, the causes of its success : the nature of its machinery : the amount of government profits : with reasons why it should be suppressed : and an appendix containing the composition of many popular quack medicines : addressed to all classes / by Charles Cowan.

  • Cowan Charles, 1806-1868.
Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The danger, irrationality, and evils of medical quackery : also, the causes of its success : the nature of its machinery : the amount of government profits : with reasons why it should be suppressed : and an appendix containing the composition of many popular quack medicines : addressed to all classes / by Charles Cowan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    the same, its evils are rather multiplied than diminished, and its power of mischief, and of successful and rapid diffusion in- calculably augmented. At the present moment, the subject is one of more than ordinary interest, and is exciting the serious attention of the Medical Associations of this and other countries. It is ac- tually undergoing a careful Government scrutiny in France, where there is every probability of measures being shortly enforced by which the evil will be curtailed to within com- paratively very narrow limits. In the estimation of every civilized population, the question of medical empiricism, were it rightly understood, could not fail to enlist in its behalf their deep and serious attention, since the correct and efficient administration of remedial means for the prevention, alleviation, or removal of disease, must neces- sarily involve considerations of th© highest importance to the health and happiness of the community. The national weal is inseparably allied with the national health, and each individual ought to feel himself personally interested in whatever has reference to determining the quali- fications of those to whom so important a trust is committed. Unfortunately, however, the question has in general been regarded as simply involving a struggle between the privileges and emoluments of the constituted medical bodies, and those assumed and usurped by the unqualified practioner: to be in fact, a mere effort of monopoly upon the part of professional men to exclude, for their selfish purposes, all who are not similarly educated with themselves. Under such an impres- sion, it is not surprising that the public have either felt indifferent as to the result, or their sympathies have occa- sionally been excited in favour of what they conceive to be the weaker or persecuted party; forgetting that their own interests are deeply implicated in all measures which have for their object to secure the qualifications of their medical attendants, and that in o]iposing empiricism, they are hene- Jittmg and protecting themselves. The medical profession, as a body, would cerffiinly be justified in interfering for its own protection, on the ground of its inten~ tion and constitution; but the public are comparatively little interested in the privileges or emoluments of any association of individuals, unless, as is the case in the instance before us, it can be shown that the general welfare imperatively demands that the practice of the healing art should be restricted to those, and those only, who have given evidence of their possessing the requisite kiiowleilgo and (pialifications for the post.