The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-12

Or. STEVENS then addressed the graduates He re-
marked, that in great town. containing vast popula
tion such event must excite feeling Of public int
rest In large cities the votary of the healing art be-
nature ana there Il was that he received instruction aa
sxpeepce ManyeG heir scopes 81 radiation TO
The class here assembled to receive their degrees Of med
cine THU was one Of the most important epochs If
tice in their lives. They entered pupils, and left
physicians, after most careful examination to their
possession Of that precious legacy the knowledge and
s OF the healing art and he hoped they would become
eminent in faithful services They had received formal
certificates If their competency to take charge of the
lives q the community; and the trustees have bad full
weight Of responsibility. He would take leave to say
that be was not insensible to his reppoii-
siblty They responsible before God and
bound by the highest obligations to as
certain. according to their best ability, from what
tanned. and the most successful methods Of curing
diseases and relieving injuries They had done in
with all the knowledge Of true physicians and
in with observation and recorded experience
ned by the sciences Of chemistry and anatomy
lie begged leave to say that the moral and religious
poets Of the subject in great degree would before
them. if not now. certainly at future period lie had
observed men eminent for learning and piety-men emf
nent for legal lore who free examne the subject
quite innocent Of the knowledge nf natural science and
who expressed their opinions in opposition to those who
had made disease the occupation of their lives. He
would suppose that such persons entirely sincere in
their convictions Of the possession Of medical knowledge
then let him ask why did they not become phv-
scians, (Applause) How enlarged would their spheres
he! what blessings would accompany their efforts
what fame and honor would they attain by the
curing diseases. the to follow the observation
Of the effects Of remedies and TO select those that pro-
duccd the largest proportion Of benefit that the
thod induction The other one was to form notion
Of the and of scascs diseases
according to such preconceiycd notions Now. ii a
attempted aiic any other basis than that Of
perionce IN q small way such man would scarcely be
considered sane Yet the parallel The foun-
daton Of all knowledge like that of medicine and apricul
turc was the observation Of nature lie would take leave
10 FAY that the pursuance Of opposite courae by
too prominent class of persons was reverent towards
TT hey cor fIp
true nature q Ills plans and of a laws in the curing
diseases, was grossly presumptuous and clearly
trary 10 the Scriptures aud in defiance Of the ordinary
laws Of nature Physicians should be honorcd Zap
yause) He referred 10 the writings Of Augustine to
show the respect which he had for medical professors lie
hoped That such an education bad been administered to
them US Hippocratos Administered to his pupils The
Dcctor here brought forward several passages FROM the
Crock sege especially in reference TO tho duties
connected with the medical profession aud con.inucd
ippoerases wen, an indueye Philosopher two thousand
years before Bacon wrote he reasoned according to the
same method which Bacon declared; h reasoned in
an age which sought caUses and effects from thcm--
poi reasoning instead observing ciects and tracing
them back 70 their causes That mode Of reasoning gave
~ stamp BY which it could advance farther ri ex-
hasted sef in the whole theme Of irpocrates-thcre
was nothing more 70 gather Then Aristotle who
cane ron an aIothecary's shop in Athens, and he
turned HE studies 10 the physical ecenccs---Lo
gather together facts and arguments. From that mo-
Eert the attention Of philosophers longer excIu
siyely occupied with notions hut with the observations
and studies Of things, which exhibited at least
amongst certain class Of medical men-a very large
perhaps the argcst body Let them mark the results
~ they traced tire speculative and inducve methods
lie felt strongly convinced that man. all things was
Gated ~ divine power from the arguments talon to
Paio sad the latter, u think therefore, am: am
here perfect being IL had made myself should not
nave made 10 self perfect can conceive perfect being
nd That God exists The Doctor glanced at thc
ac ideas q infinite whdo that prevailed at this me-
ID lie said thst the virtue Of bencvolencc was the
r. al character OF the medical profession Daring the
arl ages medicine and the civil law occupied the con-
der Nion OF the learned-thc az moral aud tho
her V material points The Doctor then shortly review
The earning Of the Jusnian code md the wrnga az
he th in reference the state OF medical science
uring III age. Notwithstanding ali tho tolls appertan-
~ TO The l. MEDICAL life II wac Happy calling Appause)
he Doctor proceeded TO commend upon the advantages
Nd altucc II religion With the profession and upon the
Inconsistency Of inhdclty, and concluded his address
Nth much arISause.
The audience shcn retired. appearing highly gratifed
t tle sight q such an honorable exhibition aud hearing
lc learned orator.