EDITORIAL.

In common with all independent and educated members of our school we are deeply anxious that the practical suggestions thrown out in the editorial of last month should not only be not lost sight of, but that some immediate action should be the result of them. Some action that may more clearly define our position before the public, tend to establish fuller confidence in the minds of the people as to our real character, and higher regard and stronger mutual esteem towards one another. In all trades, professions and callings there are combinations, unions, associations, and institutions for the purpose of general benefit, common protection, social intercourse, and the interchange of good offices and necessary asssistance between individual members. It is clear that combinations of this nature must inspire confidence in the public mind; they feel their affairs safe in the hands of a body of men who know how to protect themselves, and who exercise a constant surveillance over their own honor and character, both in private and public. It is a common adage, that "there is honor even among thieves !" and every day furnishes instances that they are often found unflinchingly true to each other, though false to all beside. Our medical brethren of the Allopathic school have set us an example in this matter which we would do well to imitate, as well as all that is valuable in their school. Between Homœopathic physicians in this city there seems to be neither union, confidence, nor a large share of mutual respect, or even ordinary courtesy. This is a humiliating confession, but who does not know that it is true? We cannot combine and organize to establish and maintain a public hospital, with even six beds in it, that may serve, as far as it would go, as a public demonstration of the truth of our system. It is not many days since we listened with deep regret to an assertion, which we felt to be a close approximation to the truth, made in a note to an educated physician of our number by a medical man of high standing and character of this city, belonging to the old school, which prognosticated "the speedy downfall of Homœopathy in consequence of the disunion and differences in their ranks, which were not held together even by a rope of sand, and that it was impossible to find three of them in the same room of whom two did not agree to pronounce the third a blockhead." We know this to be literally true in too many instances; and that they are only exceptional cases where it is not. We have with our own ears heard large numbers of our physicians stigmatised, in a body, as " a set of ignoramuses that ought to have been exposed ten years ago." And the "Homœopathic doctor" who used it in our presence is quite indifferent as to where, or in what company, this language is used, provided he thinks there is a fair chance that it will raise himself in the estimation of the listeners, perhaps there are few lovers of calumny, who can boast a better motive. The readers of this Journal and of the "Homœораthic News" have seen that expressions equally strong in condemnation of many of our best men, have been sent without qualification before the world! Now what is the cause of all this? No doubt the first and chief cause is no uncommon one-a cause which has created similar troubles, and as great dangers, in all "beginnings" from the building of Carthage to this day. It is still,

"Res dura, et regni novitas,"

our adverse circumstances and the newness of our kingdom, which must be accounted as the great first cause of our troubles and disadvantages. Time, all are ready to say, will cure these evils!we grant it, because we are sure it is true; still, as time is but the measure of actions we cannot help thinking that we have it in our power, as a body, to shorten the period. Now all know that the Homœopathic physicians, and "doctors" of this city, as well as of the whole of the United States, may be classed under three headsviz: 1. Graduates of the old school who have become converts to the new. 2. Graduates of our own colleges, of which there are two, and 3,-those who are graduates of no school or college, who have had no medical education, and very little, of any other kind-men who have taken their own diploma from themselves; and who, furnished with a "Domestic Physician" and a small case of medicated globules, commenced the "doctoring business" -as they call it.Or, perhaps, there may be some, who after a few interviews with another "doctor" in large practice, have for a consideration obtained his certificate, upon which they have "started," with the assurance that one, at least, besides themselves, thought them fit to administer to the wants of the sick and dying. No one can deny that there is a very large proportion of this third class, -the genus, "doctor,"if not a majority, mixed up and identified with the two former classes. This state of things being well known, will any one wonder that we have not the fullest amount of confidence, or the highest opinion of each other, as educated men and physicians? It must be clear that those who form the two first, must have received a medical education at least, which had cost time and money; that no small number of them are otherwise educated and accomplished gentlemen, and that thus they are in the social scale, as well as in professional rank, far above men who have received no education whatever, are degraded by assuming the right to practice a profession to which they have no claim, and are therefore openly "receiving money under false pretences" from those whom they succeed in victimizing. Who can expect union among such elements? it never can, never did, and never will exist. We at once plead guilty to this abuse of our name and profession. Our old school neighbours are not free from a similar admixture, only they have taken a precaution, which we have thus far neglected, by drawing a clear line of demarcation between their honorable members and the quacks who assume, and disgrace their title. What is to hinder our following their example? Surely there are enough of the first two classes to form a respectable union, -a "COUNTY or CITY CONSERVATIVE UNION OF HOMEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS." Let a clear title to show that a candidate has received a medical education at home or abroad, and has an honorable name in society, be the only requirements to constitute a member. In short, he must show his diploma, and produce proof of being a respectable man. Let the public and the profession know that such a society exists, that as many as choose may join it, and that the people may learn, if they wish to take the trouble, whom to trust with their health and lives. Any further rules or regulations may be short, simple and effective. The time and expense to each member will amount comparatively to nothing. And the good done to all, to each, and to the community will be incalculable. At one blow we shall have cut ourselves loose from the horrid carcase to which we are now bound, in the shape of quacks and antidiploma men, a healthy, sound and honorable union will soon be the result, both college and hospital would flourish under our generous and united sacrifices and efforts, our cause would prosper and the community be blest.

Nor should we stop here. The world should know what we really are, and where to find us. As our practice is different in the administration of medicines and that we take our peculiar designation from this one feature, which only distinguishes us from the old school, we should be publicly known by it. Every medical man's "office" should show to what school he belongs, "HOMEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN" should be openly seen on his premises; so that no one should mistake him for a member of the Allopathic school, and have his orthodoxy shocked by an accidental call; and that no person should pass by him who had filed in terror from salivation and Spanish flies. We are at a loss to know why this is not more generally the case among men who stand high in our body in this city. Surely they are not ashamed of Homœopathy, or of showing their colors! Now, for ourselves, we like to stand before the community in our true character, whether this position may be attended with loss or gain. We are sure that many in various parts of the city pass the doors of members of our school in search of Homœopathy, and that they seldom if ever get a patient who calls under the impression that they belong to the old school; and no honorable man would take advantage of such a visit to persuade a patient to try his prescription.

There is nothing disgraceful in Homœopathy at this time-of-day to make us blush for it; at home and abroad it is alike honorable and honored. And the day is not far distant when men will revere the first learned and true advocates of the cause who impressed it upon the minds of the people even from their doors and windows, as well as by its salutary effects, in their hands, at the bed of sickness. It is time then, that we should be known as practitioners according to the law of cure we adopt. And even if there were an advantage in being known by no peculiar designation but simply as Dr. Jones, or Smith, we should not avail ourselves of what is not ours. It is true we are doctors, legally and virtually as much as Jones or Smith. The legal decree of a state gives us a college, and the faculty of the college grants us a diploma for which we have studied and paid; we hold all the branches commonly taught in medical colleges as part of our education; but more, we are medical men "cum privilegio," -we are disciples of a new and improved school of medicine, which affords advantages of a high order, which involve no less than the well-being of the people! Men should be proud of such a distinction. Our peculiar badge should, therefore, indicate our local position to our patients, to our brethren, to our neighbors and even to our enemies, if we have any. We trust this subject will attract more attention and that it may be matter for consideration, at least, whether it would not be well for each Homœopathic physician that his office should be known by the inscription of the word which designates his mode of administering medicines.

ERRATA.

Vol. 4. No. 9, page 529, line 19, from the bottom, for tempore read tempora.

Page 567, last line, for is read sit.

Page 568, 8th line from top, for experimentists read experiments.

JUST PUBLISHED,

BY

RADEMACHER & SHEEK, 239 ARCH STREET,

PHILADELPHIA.

THE HOΜΕΟΡΑΤHIC TREATMENT

OF

ACUTE AND CHRONIC DISEASES,

BY EMILIUS KREUSSLER, M.D.

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN

WITH IMPORTANT ADDITIONS AND REVISIONS,

BY CHARLES J. HEMPEL, M. D.