THE DEAN AND THE DOCTORS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1880, 14 October 1913, Page 8

THE DEAN AND THE DOCTORS.

(To tho Editor.), Sir, —It is sad to think that "Lapir dator" has ,110 better argufnent with which to meet Dean Darby's forcible remarks than to go back nearly 2000 years, pick out a few of tho sayings of tho early fathers and offer them. It is so human to err, and this is tho reason why "tho pot should not call tho kettlo black," but tho difference between the clergy and the medical, man is that when a. cleric makes a mistake ho is usually willing ledge it, while the surgeon has no such grace, nut backs the first mistake up with another operation. Few, I. think, hold up the'early fathers as being authorities on disease, yet to suit his own lamo case, and I presume for lack of better argument, "Lapidator" does so. Admitting the errors of the early Church leaders regarding disease, would it bo too nfuch to say that tho errors of the medical world at this'age, i.e., nearly 2000 years ago, were a great deal moro gross. Ono wonders how an examination of tho methods employed by "the leeehcs of those early days would stand compared with the ■up-to-date methods of this age. It is within the memory of living man that surgeons used to dip the amputated member into boiling oil as tho best means of healing the wounds. But just exactly what tho opinions of the early fathers have to do with Dean Darby's indictment is not quite clear to me. It is quite evident, however, that "Lapidator" is very ignorant concerning their teachings as a whole, and if tho only source of his knowledge comes from M'Cabo's work it is small wonder. "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing," both as regards ecclesiastical history and surgery as well. Like all others who attempt to answer tho outcry against "tho lust of operation" and "the extortionate fees," "Lapidator" ignores tho charge, and honestly endeavours to side-track the main question. The Dean does not suggest that surgery is a black art—probably ho is not as competent to judge as to how dark it really is as "Lapidator" himself. What tho Dean did say, in effect, was that many of tho operations to-day were entirely unnecessary, and that the road to tho surgery is paved with gold (for the surgeons). With this wo think everybody in tho Dominion but' the medical men themselves will agree, and even amongst them some nro'found noblo enough to agree with tho remarks. Will "Lapidator" confine himself to tho point, and offer some defence (I don't expect, much) to the straight-out statement: (1) That many operations of to-day aro unnecessary, and aro mistakes; (2) that medical and surgical fees in New Zealand are out of all proportion, either to tho work done or to tho average wage earned by their patients. Trusting you will find space for this letter.—l am, etc.. HALT AND LAME.