CHAPTER III.
THE TESTIMONY OF THE PUBLIC—continued.
“All these are good, and these we must allow,
And these are everywhere in practise now.”
Taylor the Water-Poet.
The case related by Dr. Smiles is interesting to every Bone-setter, as well as to the public at large, for it drew attention to the fact that there existed a number of “specialists” who had made bone-setting and sprains their study, who had inherited the experience of their predecessors, and who, though not recognised by the “schools,” or enrolled under the various acts for the registration of medical practitioners, had done a vast amount of good and had alleviated a great deal of pain which had baffled the skill of the regular surgeons.
Dr. William Chambers, in the Journal which bears his name, had drawn attention to the case of Mr. George Moore, in a review of Dr. Smiles’ book, which seems to have excited the indignation of several surgeons, who “called in question the accuracy of the story.” To these the editor, presumably Dr. Chambers himself, replies by quoting the testimony of a number of correspondents who had favoured him with their experiences. Dr. Chambers refers those who doubt the statement about Mr. George Moore, to Dr. Smiles himself, whom he truly says “is not given to romancing.” “We have,” he continues,[3] “ourselves, however, known some curious instances of illiterate men who, by a sort of natural tact, were eminently successful as bone-setters.” One of these instances was that of a drummer in a militia regiment as long ago as 1812, who, when discharged at the peace of 1815, set up as a bone-setter, and made a living by his profession. Not long since, there died an eminent bone-setter on Spey-side, to whom persons suffering from dislocations flocked from all quarters. It seems ridiculous to pooh-pooh instances of this kind. A wiser policy would consist in finding out what were the special modes of operation of these bone-setters, and taking a hint from them.