Gazette Of The United States

FROM THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
THE METABASIST.

"HE MUST DIE"—said the Doctor—
"She must die—She has a pain of
juices" The mother wept aloud—"Is there no
help Doctor?" said he, "Must I then lose my
only child?"—"I have tried every remedy,"
said the Doctor, setting his hand upon his hip,
"which is known to the healing art—and there
is no man, I'll assure you better acquainted with
medicine than myself; for I travelled three
years with the great Indian-Doctor Mohohonock."
The scene was truly affecting. While the
Doctor without any emotion of pity, boasted of
his skill:—The mother was affectionately taking
leave of her daughter—"Adieu," "adieu,
gentle spirit; fondly did I hope thou wouldst
live to be the supporter of my age."—I was
too much affected with pity for the mother, and
indignation against the Doctor to be a further
witness:—I stole silently from the room.—
—Of all quacks, quacks in physic are most pernicious
to the common people.—Can a man of
feeling be a witness of the daily havoc, made
by these officers of death, among his fellow creatures,
without a sigh?—Indeed I could hardly
refrain from tears, while my uncle, the other evening,
told how his father was physicked out of
the world by one of these Doctors, because he
had a red spot upon his nose, which the quack
declared to be a cancer.—But said my uncle,
"my father had as sound a nose the day he died
as the Doctor himself."
—Perhaps, reader, you are learned, may be,
member of the State legislature; you say, "I detest
a quack, I would never employ him" but
your neighbour is an illiterate man, who cannot
determine whether a physician be a man of learning
and skill or not.—But, reader, if you do not
in reality belong to the legislative body, yet for
this once imagine you do.—Imagine that twice a
year you assemble yourself with the wise men of
the State to enact laws for the good of the people—Imagine
that you have kindly provided against
quacks in law, by empowering our County
Courts to inquire into the learning and abilities
of those who design themselves for the profession
of the law, and to give licence if their knowledge
is sufficient—Imagine that you have by a
statute restrained wine—And then imagine (but
blush while you even imagine it) that these quack
physicians are permitted to depopulate your dominions.—
By an English statute, 5 Eliz. chap. 4. no person
is allowed to execute any trade of skill, unless
he has first served a regular apprenticeship
of seven years.—Surely as much care ought to
be taken that men should not be deprived of
their health and lives, as that a clock should keep
time regularly.—By a statute of this state, a tanner
is not allowed to sell leather, unless he has
first manifested his skill to the County Court, and
from them obtained licence: nor then until the
leather has been approved of, and sealed by a
sworn sealer: But physicians are allowed to make
and vend medicine, and are not even themselves
required to know what they are, or what will be
their effect.—It is a serious consideration.—Is it
not high time there should be some regulations
concerning physicians.