THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

Western Star, Issue 377, 4 September 1880, Page 2

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

SO THB BDITOK. Sib, —Having seen an advertisement in yaurlate issues, relative to the cure of toothache 1 neuralgia, and allied complaints, independently of the presence of deoayed teeth, &c., I beg leave to cull the attention of the publicthrough your columns to the following :—ln the first place, I think—and indeed knowthat the relationship existing between doctor and patient i« and should be strictly confidential on both sides. I cannot therof -re undorstand how the rev. geutloman, who advertise* a oopv of prescription (wuioh is knowii " never to have tailed in any one case" for the perfect cure of those most terribl* pains, for the exfcre:nely modern* sum of " half-a-crown," reconciles himself to the fact that ho is first breaking oonfi lence with his physician, and also tra iing illicitly on another man's brains. Sefon.lly, with regard to the dsing of good : toothache, neuralgia and the allied

complaint* being often merely Bymptoms of deeper nested or constitutional disorder, I •would ask, how, under the circumstances, does the nr. gentleman tell tmc which p«rtirular case is hie treatment correct or likely to do any good ? Thirdly, sir, according to the constitution of thin colony, all trades and professions are .more or leos taxbd, directly or indireotly, tbey thereby reaping the bonefit of protection. Doctors especially have to puy tolerably heavy fees, fortius so-called luxury. I ask vou, sir, as a last question, why suovld anyone go to a physician or surgeon, and haring got his advice and prescription, wmi-h has the desired effect, why should he thus retail that advice and prescription to his friends for 2s 6d ? ■Under tho shore oircumstances what protection can a legally qualified medical man have t I hope you will not think, sir, that in writing this I am actuated by any selfish motive. I only wish to expose a wrong and support rights for wbbh my brother medical mon and myself have had no t only to work for, but having dene that to pay for too.—l am, 4c, Feltham, L.R.C.P; L.M., Edin.; M.R.C.S.E. Rirerton, Aug. SI, 1830.