A course of fifteen lectures, on medical botany : denominated Thomson's new theory of medical practice; in which the various theories that have preceded it are reviewed and compared. Delivered in Cincinnati, Ohio / ... With introductory remarks by the proprietor.

  • Robinson, Samuel.
Date:
1830 [i. e. 1831]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A course of fifteen lectures, on medical botany : denominated Thomson's new theory of medical practice; in which the various theories that have preceded it are reviewed and compared. Delivered in Cincinnati, Ohio / ... With introductory remarks by the proprietor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    TO THE PUBLIC, A proposition to revolutionize thepractice of medicine, by introduc- ing a s\ stem of contract between the Dr. and his patients, whereby the present system will be changed, und people will pay foftfieir health instead of sickness, (which is the present practice.) And first, it i3 proposed to petition the Legislatures of the several states, wherein for the benefit of the high and scientifically mighty ones, laws have been passed, impairing the validity of contracts * to be gratiously pleased and condescend to give us the [unconstitutional no doubt] privilege of making our own contracts. Do not startle gentle reader, we have not this monstrous power, we only have proposed to petition for it; but whether the Honorable Legislatures will entrust us with this equal privilege, is uncertain; nevertheless, we propose to pe- tition for it. Having gained our first proposition by a special act of the Legislatures, we next propose to enter into contract as physician and patient, upon the following plan, viz; the physician is to agree and covenant with individuals, and families, to keep them in their usual -rood health, for a certain length of time, say one year, for a specified sum, as the parties may agree. And the physicians are also to agree, that in case of failure on their part, they will forfeit and pay to the pa- tients the sum of cents per day, for each and every days sick- ness of the patient; provided, the physician is called on, and the pa- tient follows his directions. Let the foregoing plan be carried into effect, and I venture the as- sertion, that nine tenths of the sickness, and consequent wo and mise- ry which now distorts and distracts the human species, would be ban- ished from among us. The physician would find it for his interest to keep the people not sick but well, for which purpose he would watch over them—would instruct them in the use of his medicines, and keep a stock by them, that they might use as occasion should require, on the first appearance of disease, for if his attendance is required, he looses his time, his medicines, and cents per day. This surely will exclude any wish or chance for deception on either side, for no phy- sician will wish for employment upon the foregoing terms, nor will any person consent to follow his directions for the sum of cents, un- less disease renders it necessary. This is not all, wherever such con- tracts were made, the people would have no cause to fear the adminis- tration of poisonous minerals, or the lancet, for there is no practition- er so ignorant as not to know that the person who takes a good dose of mercurv, antimony, salts, &c. is rendered unfit for their ordinary bu- siness, for one day at least; and he who suffers his life's blood to be' drawn, suffers his life to be taken in the same proportion. These ideas are given to the public, with a wish that they may benefit themselves thereby. SAMUEL THOMSON. Columbus, Ohio, January 1831. *The 11th section of the act regulating the practice of physic and surgery, in this state, makes void all contracts whatsoever, for the practice of physic' or surgery by any person who is not licensed by the authority of said act.