Page:Quackery Unmasked.djvu/322

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QUACKERY UNMASKED.

gence can, with any hope of success, be used as a remedy against mistakes and frauds; and when that fails, the case must be given up as hopeless or allowed to expire by its own limitation.

Too much is always expected of medicine. It cannot accomplish all that the public or the profession desire; and although it appears to be continually improving, and increasing in knowledge and means of relief, yet the changing condition of society appears to increase the demands upon it in nearly the same degree. The science can never be expected to arrive at a state of perfection. There are intrinsic obstacles in its nature, which no human power can overcome. Nor would it be reasonable to suppose that all who engage in it are always every way worthy of that responsible vocation. Physicians are not free from the common infirmities and errors of other men, and the standard of moral and intellectual merit by which they are to be governed is mainly confided to public opinion. Full perfection cannot be found in any other calling, and it certainly should not be looked for in this. If the public bestow the same attention and respect,