The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-15
CITY TELLIG NOE.
OUR DOCTRESSES. ).

Annual commencement of the WomRu's
ned'ca, College at Concert nH,r..s n%vv.sd,S- Sy
Professor IsaRc Comfy, ID. -.
This noon, at Concert Hall, the annual
commencement of the Womans Meulca. l- Ool-
lege was held, the attendance of spectators
being very large. The exercises were opened
by prayer by the Rev. E. l.. Magoon, ID. d., and
after music by the Germania orchestra the
degree of Doctor of Medicine was con-
ferfed upon the following ladies by I. Norris
Perot EsQ.:-
Annie E Broomau Pa Sarah G. Seward. IN. Y
await. ......... -. Pa. Augusta Ii. God
Annetta Krdtz pzoo PrHdcRcg ,gl Hs1na. a. saur2
Mary Dubois ....: N Y. Sarah J. Williams y. J.
Nellie L. Keith. N. Y. Loretta Mann. -. Mich
Then followed the valedictory address to the gra-
duates, from which we make these extracts:-
vALKDICroRY ADDRESS BY PROF. ISAAC Comfy, NJ. D.
In leaving u.s. we desire that you take with you as
surances of our friendship and best wishes, as Wen
as testimonials of your qualifications to enter upon
the duties of practicng physicians. We congratu-
late you that special season OF anxiety Is passed
period Of your lives, but by no means closing tnat
TO be appropriated to study IN relation to which
The laborers who have gone before have lett us
much; those of the present time have made their
who may come after to add to the amount of human
knowledge. If in reviewing the past we
or only partially employed, we not
malpractice or Influenced by avodable errors. New
discoveries, clearer light, and longer experience
NAV Justify and require changes in progressive
science. With the qualifications which now
yours we think of you IN anticipation as engaged in
the devious wanderings OF the practising physician;
but whether thus engaged or not, we are sure your
medical knowledge will ever be valuable, as no
and none where such knowledge may not at some
time be available for good.
The mission of the physician is fulfilled in the
darkest, most gloomy, and painful periods of human
existence and yet how little is known by the people
OF the means at his dsposal In sickness the doctor
is sent for, and expected to relieve cure with
medicines or manipulatlons. But as practitioners
and theories various, it must often be difficult
TO decide to whom shall be offered the opportunity
Is there remedy for such diculty? 1t is believed
there is, consisting in informing the public mind in
relation 10 the causes and the treatment of disease.
But are all TO become doctors? BY no meaus. A
knowledge OF the merits OF an art does not enable
the informed to practice 1t, but greatly aids in
ecting the most sktlful operative.
The populariZing Of medical scien ce may not only
do good in this way, but Oy prompting to the reform
OF unhealthful habits-to the more airy construction
OF cities and their more thorough cleansiug-the
better ventilation of our houses and the more free
admission therein of sunlight and daylight, to the
most rational system eI warning them, and TO the
To all, then, is offered the suggestion that med
cal knowledge was mare freely disseminated, 1t
rational treatment of disease. Then allow the adj
vice-talk with the people in way in which they
can understand simple words and give common
sense conclusons-avoid pedantly and mystery-and
do not pretend that nature can only be understood
through the medium Of Latin and Greek They may
give the opinions OF men, but nature may be read IN
If. then medical education qualities woman for
the common walks of life, as it surely does, may it
not prepare her under favoring circumstances for
more extended application Of her skill and know
ledge? How many will thus make use of what they
have gained none can tell but it a woman physician
honest and faithful in her vocation, there Is no
apparent reason why she should not receive the
calls OF the sick, ana minister to their condition
with skill and success equal to that of any other;
and if good woman, she will seek to know, what
she alone can know, her highest duty, aud then
none need fear the neglect OF family or any other
OF the important concerns of life.
1t has been said that the study OF medicine is in
is high time that we see to it, II this is the effect of
preparation which hundreds of young men annually
ored and responsible vocations known in society, it
needs investigation. Butit is not so. Whatever is
belong to medicine and such manifestations, when
ever appearing are from lower source. Next TO
the discharge OF immediate duties to the sick should
be the desire to improve the healing art and thus
leave something OF value for posterity 1t may not
not be ANYTHING that can be individualized;
neither the writing OF book nor the introduction
small circle but II within that have labored to
sustain the most approved practice, tnat most con-
aid in promulgating the right, in comforting upon
society discoveries calculated to redeem from error
and render human life longer and happier.
= The uncertainties OF medicine are often re-
ferred to, and the inquirng ask why this Sickness
and why not the infahible remedy? Many diseases
arise from known aud ayodable causes; IN nus ira
ton, 1t is only needfu to refer TO the use OF aco-
hOlic drinks, ana rom the enects OF Willcn pfo-
badly not less than 100 900 die annually in the United
States and to the effects of opium, OF TOBACCO OF
eating too much, and OF food faulty IN quallty; 10
sleeping too little or too much, or at unseasonabe
times appropriating the large and small hours OF
the night Tor doing that which would be much bet
ter done in the ealy evening or the glowing morn
ing. To this list add excessive labor and insuill-
cient exercise, want OF pure air and cleanliness,
and various improper indugences, then imagine all
these causes avoided Why, sisters and brethren OF
the medical profession If such change should occur
some OF us viii have to look for other occupations;
but the improved condition Of our fellow-bengs Will
afford purer pleasure than silver or gold can buy
Sickness comes because the causes are not or
cannot be avoided; and whether it be TO the great
or Owly it is the outy of the ply sican to endeavor
TO relieve and cure. This we mold cannot be done
iudiciously without the presence OF the patient
symptoms and the adaptation OF means (not always
medcines) in accordance therewith. The ldea that
there are specifics for disease is not sustained by
common obs rvaton; they may be dis
ledged that very few, any, are now
known. This is subject worthy OF attention, as
also that Of giving medicines singly so that their
true properties ana value may be better understood;
in combination it is not easy to distinguish the use
ful from the useless. There Is no better code OF
medical ethics "than to do unto Others as ye would
Others under similar circumstances, should do unto
you" To advise respecting your reading may be
supernuous, but allow few words about it. 1t is
often better TO read subject through several books
than to read one book through; and should the eve
ming furnish the opportunity 1t may be instructive
and comforting to what others have recorded in
relation 10 your experience in the day. :
We approach the end with a consciousness that
your lots cannot always be in pleasant places, but
desire that your trials may be sanctided to you;
that you may experience that peace typihed in ma
ture when the storm has passed, the winds have
lulled the clouds have rolled away, the bow OF
beauty is arched in the heavens, and sunlight is
Frightening every object.
The beautiful language OF DR.. Rush, on an occa-
sion similar to this, fully accords with feel
inQs that offer his words in expressing the