The most recent contribution to our Let It All Hang Out blog gave the medical profession a hefty punch in the solar plexus, by openly criticizing its proclivity for prescribing drugs as a prime cure-all, as opposed to insistence on patients’ sensible eating practices. However, since our reading audience includes no doctors, we deem it only fair to offer a reply from a mythical physician, based on the reaction that would likely result.
Accordingly, here is what we might expect in retaliation from an irate medical practitioner:
“Do you believe for an instant that we doctors are unaware of the benefits forthcoming
from a carefully controlled diet? Most of us have forgotten more than you presently
know about this matter. Nevertheless, how much could we ever accomplish by focusing
principally on choice of foods as the best approach for a patient? Can you honestly
expect the great majority of them to listen? Forget it. The unfortunate fact is that we’re
practically forced into writing hefty prescriptions, just to offset the damage so many
people have brought on themselves by eating improperly, and otherwise not taking good
care of their bodies.
“We continually tell people to quit smoking, but how many ever really do? Way too many
of them will go on puffing and wheezing until Joe Camel knocks them cold some day
not too far down the line. Furthermore, how are we expected to treat those who
obediently nod their heads in response to our semi-stern advice about reducing their
calorie, sugar, cholesterol, and other harmful intakes, then leave our offices and head
straight to the nearest McDonald’s for a burger and fries lunch?
“Quit blaming us for trying to do our best to salvage what we can out of an ailing,
mistreated human anatomy. Give us due credit for a noble effort.”
Thank you, Doctor. We stand duly admonished.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
WORDS OF WISDOM GLEANED FROM BROWSING THE INTERNET
Upon selecting a title for this particular piece, we were promptly reminded of Wordsworth’s classic Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey, written in 1798. However, we must assure the reader that what we’re about to expound upon falls far short, from the lyrical beauty standpoint, in comparison to the master’s chosen metric verse. As a matter of fact, the central theme which concerns us here is a rather unsavory one, namely bowel cleansing, hence improved health, through proper and careful dietary habits. Ugh!
We also admit to thoughts having arisen concerning musical virtuoso Arthur Sullivan, whose well-known The Lost Chord describes how he had allegedly created a singular perfect sound one afternoon, while browsing at an organ. We raise this point because we recently experienced a vaguely similar feeling, again nowhere near the blissful sensation described in the famous song, but rather by coming across a rare touch of sheer wisdom, thanks to certain internet content.
What the foregoing paragraphs add up to is that, while happening to read about the somewhat uninspiring subject cited above, we noted how the article included a little-known quotation by Thomas Edison back in his day. Although not a qualified physician, this gentleman nevertheless did utter a medical-related statement which we feel makes a tremendous amount of sense. Unfortunately, what the esteemed genius of the scientific world had to say on the matter has never sunk in, despite his sage prediction.
Very simply, Edison’s prognosticative utterance was:
“The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patient in the care of
the (human) frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.”
How about that, Folks? As far as we’re concerned, the man was right as rain in principle, yet a full 180 degrees off base from the accuracy angle.
To summarize our case as succinctly as possible, we merely ask the question “How many doctors have you ever consulted, receiving prime advice about careful dieting? Sure, the boys and girls of the medical world might bring the matter up, but almost always as a secondary issue. Once they’ve diagnosed your ailment, the first method of attack lies in loading you up with drugs by the veritable carload, while ignoring not only the superior benefits accruable from better eating, but the potentially harmful side effects which those pharmaceutical concoctions are apt to bring about.
Obviously, the Pfizers, Squibbs, Bayers, and Mercks of this world love those solid medical practitioners, who are so inclined and adept at helping peddle their questionable value wares.
From our personal end, though, we fail to hold anywhere near the same respect.
We also admit to thoughts having arisen concerning musical virtuoso Arthur Sullivan, whose well-known The Lost Chord describes how he had allegedly created a singular perfect sound one afternoon, while browsing at an organ. We raise this point because we recently experienced a vaguely similar feeling, again nowhere near the blissful sensation described in the famous song, but rather by coming across a rare touch of sheer wisdom, thanks to certain internet content.
What the foregoing paragraphs add up to is that, while happening to read about the somewhat uninspiring subject cited above, we noted how the article included a little-known quotation by Thomas Edison back in his day. Although not a qualified physician, this gentleman nevertheless did utter a medical-related statement which we feel makes a tremendous amount of sense. Unfortunately, what the esteemed genius of the scientific world had to say on the matter has never sunk in, despite his sage prediction.
Very simply, Edison’s prognosticative utterance was:
“The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patient in the care of
the (human) frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.”
How about that, Folks? As far as we’re concerned, the man was right as rain in principle, yet a full 180 degrees off base from the accuracy angle.
To summarize our case as succinctly as possible, we merely ask the question “How many doctors have you ever consulted, receiving prime advice about careful dieting? Sure, the boys and girls of the medical world might bring the matter up, but almost always as a secondary issue. Once they’ve diagnosed your ailment, the first method of attack lies in loading you up with drugs by the veritable carload, while ignoring not only the superior benefits accruable from better eating, but the potentially harmful side effects which those pharmaceutical concoctions are apt to bring about.
Obviously, the Pfizers, Squibbs, Bayers, and Mercks of this world love those solid medical practitioners, who are so inclined and adept at helping peddle their questionable value wares.
From our personal end, though, we fail to hold anywhere near the same respect.
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