The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-03-18
LOCAL MATTERS.

cal Graduates of Hampden Sydney College, Mon
day Ereaiag, on the Position, Character ana D4-
ties Of tie Physician
The address delivered to tue atumR'' AZ 'he "eu
ical College, on Monday evening" by Dr. uio'om
was marked by an inpartiaiity, vigor aho Ain""
of thought and expression, honoraoie ahAe "
the head and the heart of the speaker Wnhe we
have such men at the head of the medical pfoies-
sion in this State, little fear need be entertained oil
deterioration in the character and influence OF tne
profession We think those who VIII feao anu
ponder the address carefully viii agree WIN US Ii
| commencing its generous and pracncai 'ohe'
Alter referring to the separation OF the classes
| about to take place, and cpmplimendng the hi'ni
| bcrs upon their thorough medical sttainih. n''
which had wthstood the test OF close eAainiN"
tion-the learned professor proceeded 10 poiht ou'
some of the important points OF duty WHICH ne
thought claimed their allegiance. what " as uu'y
| 1t honor-it was the beauty of mans moral me-
| and society which languished in its reiaxatiohs
persisted with its failure. If they considereo Tue
physician in his relations to society, they must DC
| lieve that profession imposed duties more So
| we're and multiplied, or that exacted more scfupu
lousy the exercise of all the qualities OF the hiu
| and heart. The depository OF the lie OF MS lei
| lows he should be we'll yersed in the knowledge
of all that might preserve health and heal disease
| The physician should be man of honor and OF
| science-science provided him with materials, and
the moral qualities regulated their employment.
Science was the physcian's first duty, for when a
mans life was at stake ignorance became c 'ime;
and it was not to be acquired without perseVefinS
labor, labor that furrowed the cheek and sprinkieo
| the hair with snow Severe conditions and proofs
had been imposed to the capacity of men, engage
ing in the profession Of medicine, which established
their fitness, to undertake the office OF physicians
in order to secure the confidence of society and
in behalf of the faculty, he (Mr. g. would say that
it was the policy and design of that institution to
| continue those condition. and proofs severe and
| undertaking. The gentlemen before him had re
eeived their diplomas doctors OF medicine--ater
the requisite preparation-and would soon be prac-
| titioners. They had undergone great labor and
study, in order that preparation Yet their
career just opening, and their lives were to be
lives of continued labor and sefdenia for they be-
longed to suffering humanity. cloud applause)-
| Engaged in practice, they probably soon
would be-though often exhausted from their la
bors-when called upon to give their services
to the sick and suffering, they dare not refuse them
Continued APPLAUSE
All men Of talent were not adapted TO the practice
OF medicine. Common sense, quick discernment,
and clear mind, were indispensable requisites for
the physician. The art of observation in the high
est degree was requisite, and that art demanded
sasacity, attention, and perseverance,. There were
some men who delighted in distractions and gen
ordinations, and these were the metaphysicians
and poets of science who could never become prac
titionera. The physician should also possess
warm, generous, and sJmpathizing heart The
practise of surgery did not harden that heart but
gave it that true manly sensibity, that compass.
sionated pain and raised the crushed spirit, and
also sufficient composure to remedy an unforeseen
| accident.
Humanity and Benefcence should be peculiarly
virtues of the physician, and the happiness resulting
from their exercise, was his best recompense. He
was the mediator as it between the richer and
poorer classes and the protector of all the wretch
| ed Whether under the embroidered robe of lux
ury, beneath the rags of misery and poverty the
| physician only saw the suffering organ, knew
difference between his patients, that which
suited from the gravity of the symptoms, Ind the
necessity for his aid.
L
friend of families. The veil that screened the Sc.
| crets of family from other eyes was drawn aside
/ for him. He the comforter and the mediator;
| and admitted to the closest intimacy of the domeE-
tic HEARTH he must regard sacred trust all that
his eyes ad seen and his ears had heard. No hui
man consideration should induce him to publish or
even to intimate any of the thousand condolences
which he might receive in the exercise of his pro-
| fession.
Anindispensibe quality to the physician was that
| of courage. Galen, it was Fundamentally true
had fed from Rome when it was desolated by the
plague bathow many acts of courage and devo-
ton had not physicians shown in all ages to atone
| for the fault of this one! A devastating epidemic
was the field of honor of the physician; and it was
| there that he displayed the imperturable compo-
| sure and courage which treasured the terrified
populace When graphing with the fatal epide mic,
for the intrepid physician there no glorious ex-
| element, or delirious dream of honor and fame
but there was the calm, steady, persevering spirit
OF humanity and benefcence, guiding his footsteps
to the abode of pestenee and death.
There was another kiad of courage indispensa.
BILE to the physician, and that was the courage to
resist temptation. He must resist the temptaton
to elevate himself by decrying the services of his
more fortunate brethren of the profession, or
by throwing out insinuations as to their capaci.
ty. Closely allied to the quality of courage was
that OF disinterestedness. 1t was in the ranks of
the poor that the young physician Usually found
his first employment; and how dlnira.le was his
conduct, when ne had attained the height of his
reputation If he continued to attend the poor with
the same deyotedness as in the commencement of
his career. "My best patients are the poor" said
the great Boerhaave, "for God has promised TO
pay for them He tMr. G-) should pity the gentle
men before him if he could believe that motives OF
interest had prompted their selection of the protes
sion of medicine for they might be assured that
the exercise of their art while it might lead to an
honorable position, rarely established the physi-
clan in moro than comfortable circumstances. Be.
| sides, what emolument could possibly repav the