On slight ailments : and on treating disease / by Lionel S. Beale.
- Lionel Smith Beale
- Date:
- MDCCCXC [1890]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: On slight ailments : and on treating disease / by Lionel S. Beale. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.
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![work, and our methods. In some cases, instead of helping the court, our evidence seems to add to the difficulty of arriving at any decision whatever. It is not surprising that we are not held in high favour in the legal atmosphere, but at the same time it is certain that the profes- sion does not deserve the treatment it has occasionally received at the hands of some politicians and lawyers, and, as a consequence, from the public. Let any one fairly consider Avhat medical knowledge and work have done for the world in recent times, and I am sure he will not form a low estimate of the usefulness of medical work and thought. Facts patent to all ought long ago to have convinced every intelli- gent person of the truth and real importance of medical \vork. Consider, for instance, the steadily falling death-rate, sometimes under fourteen ])er thousand, notwithstanding the increased density of population, the rapidly improving general health and vigour of a considerable and increasing percentage of the people, the better management and the lower death-rate of young children, the improved laws and continually improving practices relating to the health and management of the sick poor, the inmates of prisons, lunatic asylums, workhouses, hospitals, and other places in which a number of persons are received, the improved dwellings, better clothing, better food and water, and a hundred beneficial changes carried into practice during the last fifty years, mainly in consequence of the repeated advocacy of the profes- sion, and the progressive work, thought, and careful observation of successive generations of medical practitioners. And as advance and improvement go on, it may seem to some of us rather slowly, too slowly, distinct improvement will be discerned if decade be compared with decade. Had we but the influence we deserve to have upon the governing minds of the country, the pace of sanitary and other advance would be greatly accelerated. The more our work is understood the better for us. If only people were better trained in scientific and medical knowledge, so that they might be able to judge for themselves on many of the questions in which we are concerned, our position would be far higher than it is at this time. The very public and, I fear it may be truly said, frequently repeated exposition of want of trust in the profession is calculated to wrong us in many ways. It may have even encouraged proceedings against medical practitioners in cases in which they have unquestionably acted in the best interests of the patient and the public. Though in several such instances the prac- titioner has been found “ not guilty,” and has been completely exone- rated and dismissed “ without a stain upon his character,” there are very few who would not consider themselves far 'better off, and this not merely for financial reasons, if they could have kept clear of law altogether rather than enjoy the proud satisfaction of having the highest character conferred and perfected and sealed by legal authority. You](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b2130340x_0042.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
