Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-10-23

nv .oNPehohSe winch an many instances Is
acquired by the medical graduate aS1er n.
commences practice, (tO the injury often Of
| the public and the great anoy ance of himselfl
| is thus obtained under the guidance Of thosa
accustomed 70 disease, saving thereby any
Encouragement Of the patient, and acquiring
from habits Of observation an invaluable ex.
penence, which cannot be too highly estimated
or safely dispensed with. To cultivate the
faculty Of observation is necessary 10 progress
IN any scientific pursuit and in none more so
.nan in practical medicine Things must be
| looked at just as they are, without any false
coloring or delusive phantoms. We want no
theories at the bedside Of ths sick-no images
aIei.ue imsglnation- We want only reali-
them. are anu you SO 70 study
| Experience has no quick methods; and al
tainments are made here only by working as
slduously in the right way What at first is
laoorlous, 6y habit and use becomes easy and
| peasant. The most uncertain and darkened
| OF nature e recesses become all beauty and at
traction IN the beaming light of the sun If
SCIENCE Reading books and hearing lectures
| are each instructive and Indispensable, but
the great end of these is TO all you in the
most important part Of your education at the
bedside Of the sick. Until you become famil-
| Iarzed with the sick room, carefully observing
the phenomena Of disease and the effects Of
remedies, You are without the qualifications
necessary to ht you to take charge Of the lives
| Of your fellOw-men
College clinics. though useful AMI instruc-
ave, are no substitutes for hospital clinics.
| observation, to be useful, must be complete
and bringing patient once or twice before
| the class by no means affords an opportunity
| tor thorough knowledge of his disease. and
means of relief. Cases should be carefully
studied through their entire course to recoy-
cry or death. close and constant attend
| ance at the bedside Of sickness insisted upop.
4 hours Of ma A.
IN anticipation Of years Of usefulness and profit
| hereafter, and the conscious ability will be
| given faithfully 70 discharge the duties Of the
4 noolest profession that can engage the mind
| OF nan, making him the hOnored instrument
| Of God, who healeth all our diseases" Stu
| dents of medicine should be encouraged 70 OH
serve disease from the first moment Of their
| engaging in the study. There are no books so
| valuable from beginning TO end, from frst 20
last, as the living body in health and in sick
ness, and the cold)corpse, when life has ceased
| to animate il.
| The diff iculties of the profession were brought
| up In review, as belonging to this in common
\ Wltn the attainment Of anything most valuable
| or desirable in life. That reward follows oply
| exertlcn In any case, il in accordance with the
| ndowments of the human economy, wisely or
| dalned for the preservation of the physical in
| tegrity and the IN sllectual and social we'll
being of mankind. The struggles of man,
| based upon his desires and his homes, are the
foundation Of his happiness. Diligence in busi-
| ness, then, Is no element Of evil, but a sweet
ening to the cup Of life.
| The ample opportunities and advantages Of
| the institution for instruction were presented,
and the student cautioned az ainst being too
| much welded to first Impressions, and admon-
ished to the avoidance of prejudice and pride
| OF opinion, 50 fatal to the correction Of error
| The profession was commended as worthy of
their highest hopes, and most cherished aspi-
-
strengthen, and enlarge all the finer and no
bier qualities Of the human heart
| In conclusion, the lecturer spoke of scenes
ana occurrences, deeply impressed upon his
heart and the hearts # many, still transpiring,
where our professional brethren have SO fully,
:? nooLy, ana SO gionously come up to the
/ highest expectations of their fellow-men sdorn-
ing the profession you are seeking, n 4 only
oy making It efficient in the contact with dis
ease, but by spending their hives in dispensing
Its blessings 10 mankind War and pes;ilence,
vleing with each other in their destructive
power, have been the the atres of noble actions
| not less than of suffering and of death
In the East, assembled nations are striving
In battle with all the death-bringing missiles
| that human ingenuity can invent. Heroes Of
desolation, standing above scenes Of carnage
and olUod and torture, have challenged the
admiration of the world. Let US rather do
4 homage TO these who engaged amidst such
scenes not to destroy but to save not 20 tor
| ture but to scothe and TO comfort; not TO win
| laurels by triumphing over n defeated and
fallen foe, but to raise up the weak and in
jured, 10 staunch the flowing Iife-blood, bind
1 uP the fostering wounds, and cool the feyered
| lip, assist the suffering, and solace the diving
| From our very doors men have gone forth
for such service in the Crimea, who more truly
| honor their species than the most successful
| warrior known to fame.
| The character of the conscientious physiciau
was then portrayed in his true devotion 10
\ duty, conferring reputation seldom surpassed
| IN excellence. Even when pestilence spreads
| desOlation snd dismay around and death
| comes with insatiate want and indiscriminate
/ fury-when men forget the ties of blood and
/ the bonds OF affection are sundered-when fear
ana selhshness seizes upon the multitude-then
the physician, unattainted by such examples,
with no terror amidst dangers with no fear
but of God, in whom is his trust, continues
faithfully in the discharge of the duties of his
calling; none, however destitute, escape bis
attention; while others sleep he rests not on
his pillow; neither ease or comfort afford the
happiness which attends his benefcent work
BY his kind counsel, by his affectionste en-
couragement, by his earnest and ingenious
help, be cheers the disconsolsts, he refreshes
the weary, be renovates the week. Msny a
desolate heart finds hope in his skill many a
dying soul finds consolation in his christian
love.
Recently many Of our brethren thus exer-
cised have fallen victims TO their good deeds.
From Norfolk and Portsmouth came up trum-
,pet-tongued voices Of praise. Those plague
| stricken cities have been the theatres Of human
courage more sublime than SebastOpol can
boast. No base stimulus Of passion or vain
love Of applause or hope of gain, but q con-
scious sense Of duty and q spirit Of unfailing
benevolence attends those who Ia the solicit
tude Of midnight seek the novels of the
wretched, and minist IT amidst gloom and nes
thence and misery and death 70 the perishing
poor; and when the pride Of the profession in
those cities was snatched by the ruthless des-
troyer from family and friends and the plague
stricken people, and the agonies of the be-
reayed reached the ears of their brethren
abroad, the cry for help found a ready re-
spcnse IN determined action and personal sac
rlhce. Generous merits fastened on, ready 10
he In the cold earth with those who perished
where they follow, rather than that the mis-
sion Of our noble profession should be unsc-
complished