New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-10-22
LECTURE on PHYSIOLOGY.


The Introductory Lecture before the New York Medical
College was delivered last night by Prof. EDWARD IL.
Parker his subject being Physiology.
Prof = alluded TO the death of several eminent physL
clans recently occurring and proceeded to stare 'he 81
fects which the times andhe people have upon the eu
cal profession He characterised the French members
OF the profession earnest, indefahgahle ouilahL
and acute the English as stable, SLOW to change;
and doematic the Scotch "a quick practical and
digent the Irish inventive, active and thorough the
Germans patient perseyering and minute He then en-
tered al length into Characterization OF the American
branch of the profession and spoke natter
ncly OF American literature. characteristic OF our ma
Ii nal profession H. marked facility for putting IN practee
what learned and this facility Is atrDutaoe 10 our
habits Of thought, arising from our pohtcal tree-
dom. Prof r. related by way Of Illustration an an
ecdote of the celebrated Doctor Twitchell OF New
Hampshre After pointing out other chief pecniartes
of the profession in this country he said there
was one sIect In which they did not do justice to them
selves Taking rank as our nation is-and that high
among the nations of the earth It s hme sad ne,
that the profession should take that rank IN science
10 which entitled While surgeons save lives Oy
operation, to which Europeans have no similar Instances
willie our physicians leach 20 other nations that
Whole class Of diseases heretofore irremedable, can
be speedily cured while our press gives out urea
tises on the practice Of medicine which are second 10
none and our authors in all departments are
greeted with profound respect by all abroad who are IA
miliar with them Why should we be content with sec
ond place admit that we have improved o9t we ar arc
waning 10 ourselves we should rank higher: Inc
speaker deprecated the apparent necessity OF foreign IN
dosemeIt Of our men OF science The commentator OF
the American pro ssinn ought 10 be commentator enough
for Us. and lis disproyol while it should be slow and just
should be final 70 produce the desired STATE OF things the
spe aker would have each for himself acquire more
kuovdce rpen his iud gment by study AMI oDserVatoh
Law aside all petty jeaiousos and lend all strength time
and talent wasted in them TO the unfolding Of the honor
AID dignity Of the profession. Inc Accomplishment
nj tbs will devolve upon the rising classes-upon
the Young men now Just looking for their dplo'
mas Every department Of medical knowledge u RAPID
ly procressing-even anatomy, that science OF nxed
facts We must keep up with and assist in this progress
and the early period Of lie the time for the work Iae
speaker enlarged upon the importance Of close and careful
study and practice during this period Of the physician ca
reer
PerhaIe said he in these remarks have gone some
what beyond the usual landmarks and have spoken win
some warmth but my profession and my country are dear
10 ne and whatever.wi exalt the former viii give addi
tona ueter and honor TO the latter Aud then too, re
focng upon what believe to be an unwise imPoluc ana
unjust as regards the Junior members Of the profes
sion have felt that standing here a. doa young man
If a ed on this occasion to do them justice should
be false 10 them and false 10 myself