Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 December 1900 — Good Doctors Sometimes Disagree, [ARTICLE]

Good Doctors Sometimes Disagree,

Dr. Hurty, the secretary of the 6tate board of health, in his letter on diphtheria, which we publish in this issue, takes a very positive stand on the identity of diphtheria and membraneous croup. It is a subject which has lately been at issue between some of our home physicians Dr. Hurty is no doubt correct in asserting that from the legal point of view, the two. diseases are identical, TffE Republican will not presume to either affirm or denv Dr. Hurty’s position in this matter, but in the hopes of pouring a little oil on the troubled medical waters of this vicinity, we would at least suggest that there is room for an honest difference of opinion between well educated physicians as to whether membraneous croup, so called, and diptheria are identical or not. Certain it is that recent and presumably equally well educated graduates from the 3ame leading medical colleges will take different views on the matter. Therefore we take it that it is a question so difficult to determine positively, that the adherants of either view have no right to charge the other side with ignorance. It is a question no doubt, about which the best educated physicians can differ upon, and one which none of them should fall out about nor quarrel over. Physicians, from the very nature of their profession, even more than lawyers, yea, even more than newspaper editors, need to pray fervently every day, that they be spared from the bitterness and the contention of professional jealousy.