LADIES' DOCTORS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 140, 13 June 1879, Page 4

LADIES' DOCTORS.

(Court Circular.} As one new typa_t£ character always leads to the formation of a companion type, so lhe development of a new style of has led to the creation of a totally tew order of doctors. These novel healers of the _ick are not females, but* a class of men wboee life study it is to adapt themselves to the advsnced school of womanhood in competition with their opponents of ihe opposite sex. Whilst tbe conscientious, steady-goiDg family doctors wear out their constitution aod their brains in careful attendance on the sick, day and night, working to alleviate suffering, sometimes for little or no psy, there is a wily race of men springing up aroand tbem undermining them effectually without labor or re- • morse. The pecaliar claes of men referred to— men who bring discredit upon one of the noblest of professions — make society their study, tnd trade simply on tbe weakness of human nature. Occasionally they step into a good family practice; and, if so, they exercise their talents as generalpractitioners With unwavering success. Sometimes, though, the quack of society determines • to be a specialist, and takes op the eye, the ear, or the brain as bis peculiar study. Tbe specialist has chances enough of success, but he must know something of his subject, whereas the general practitioner can hide the densest ignorance under a suave manner. -All that is necessary for success in tbe phase of medicine is patience and a flattering tongue, and certainly some of its votaries have brought tbe last member into such order that its capacity seems unfathomable. Supposing that tbe patient be fond of gaiety and excitement, and that undue indulgence may bave resulted in collapse, the society doctor is called in with tbe sore knowledge that bis prescriptions will be palatable. The patient will be soothed with a promise of a speedy return to the gay world, and roused with some medical stimulant sufficiently well to make her appreciate tbe skill of her counsellor and return quickly on his hands in much worse case tbao before. Unscrupulous wives know that such a doctor as this will prescribe , the foreign tour, or sea-side trip, or any other diversion, opposed by husbands, on which they have set what they are pleased to call their minds. The female patient of culture has a great weakness for the society doctor, for his fl.ttery to her ia of tbe most delicate kind. Clever women, or those who pass as such, are never allowed to be bilious or subject to ailments common to the nnintellectual. In their case, a bilious ailment is said to spring from the! brain, and even a broken finger or a toothache would be attributed to an undos amount of intelligent work. This is one of the most subtle modes of establishing influence over a silly woman. Exaggerate her mental capacity, set her up on an intellectual • pedestal, and in return the doctor's talents are her sole theme of conversation. He is lauded for his curious ioßight into obscure ailments, and everyone else is entreated to allow him to find out some evil of their coostitu- .' tion hitherto unguessed at. But woe betide the doctor if he should Bad: an overplus . of brain in another; patient's cranium ! Duplicate cases, however, rarely occur amongst intimate friends; the doctor is too wise not to disseminate bis ailments care».Hy.. The tendency to over-stimulation is imch encouraged by this kind of medical man, for he has no scruple about ordering nervous women to take .port wina or any other alcoholic drink, from which tbey bave fancied benefit is to be found. Habits of this nature are far too easily formed, and when formed are confirmed by tbe advice, which is given only because it appears to be palatable without a thought of the danger which lies ahead; When there are so many able, well-principled men iv the medical profession-— men who would, renounce half their income rather than. treat their patients otherwise than conscientiously —-it is unfortunate that the class. of men described above should be gaining ground, and winning the confidence of whole families by the most 1 studied falsehood and charlatanry.