Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-02-27
scAPgL AND LANCET.
Seventy New Doctors Turned Loose
commencement Exercises OF the
Nashville Medical COLLEGE


An audience SO large that all the avail
able room on the floor and in the galleries
OF the spacious Representative hall was oc-
cupieG. witnessed the commencement ex- |
ercises of the Nashville Medical College |
last evening. which exercises were enlivened |
with melodious strains skilifully rendered |
by the Rock City Band.
The faculty consisting of the following
Paul f. Eve, ThoS. l.. Maddin, Ihos.
Menees. ]. IL. Calendar, W. T. Briggs, w.
L. Nichol, V. S. Lindsey, j. Nj. Stafford.
After prayer by Bishop McTyeire,
DIR. WILLIAM sPILLERs,
the yaledictorian of the class, was intro
duced by DIR. Eve. The following is
synopsis of DIR. Spillers' address:
Gentlemen of the graduating class: The
time has come for us to separate, ana IN
obedience to a time-honored custom OF
medical colleges, one has been separated
from the rest to say s'GoOd bye" 10 all.
We are about to enter the arena Of the
world. having undergone course of train
inc to eGuip ourselves for the difficulties
that will meet us. Our pilgrimage is just
begun. and there is but little allarement
along the way, amid scenes of suffering
anu hlCAC DAaA~h 49,
weeping willow are, too often, sad reliefs 10
the surroundings, is the path we are now
to pursue.
Every graduate in medicine must feel
impressed with the idea that now he is be-
come a candidate for eminence. As we
have figured in the miniature world to
which we now bid farewell, so, is the prob
liability that we will act in our new
sphere. The higher the target, the higher
must be the aim. Tie records OF the
great men who have lived, tlourished and
passed away before us, serve to convince US
that they carved their way TO lasting honor
through goodness and usefulness to their
fellow-man. Truly hath the poet sung;
1.-The lives of great men all remind us
We may make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of tine"
The distinguished success that crowned
the efforts Of our predecessors in their Ia
| borious task is an exciting stimulus to the
medical neophyte. In this, as in all other
sciences, there is ample room at the top.
Many, by a capricioGs freak OF fortune,
have suddenly attained that hight, but, daz-
lied by the prospects around him, and I'M
supported by proper ballast, how quickly
have they fallen and passed away.
1t has ever been a question OF momen-
tous import whether ambition should be
COMMENDED OR CONDEMNED.
The reward, undoubtedly, should be COM
mensurate with the motive, but in this, as
ia all filings else, pertaining TO worldly
matters, we are taught by the sacred
writings to be temperate. Here the
analogy is plain and conclusion evident,
that ambition in medical learning as much
so as in law, phiiOshOphy, etc., Is worthy
the highest enconiums when tempered by a
desire to effect some good for ones fellow
being; but Rugged with frantic delirium TO
eclipse all past generations, regardless OF
the cOncomitant veal or wOe-lOolIing only
10 self-acgrandizement and intoxicated by
batteries of a senseless public, should be
| denounced and not accorded a reStinS-plaee
in the conservatory of the eminently good
and useful. But the mind Of man illumined
| with knowledge naturally seeks freedom
from restraint under the worlds opinions
| assumes the inherent rights of its own OBJ
| seryations, and, from the myriadS of theO-
ries, eoncordant and conflicting, lays
down its own Self-governing laws. As sci
| ence progresses and man becomes more
sensible of the purposes for which nature
sloyered her gifts so profusely, so does he
realize the vital Importance of carefully
expending his time. Christianity, in its
| deyeloped state. teaches us not to misapply
the golden moments Ct our sojOun here.
| The great apostles well appreciated this
doctrine wllsn they began their mighty and
glorious tasks; and behold what success
The world may well stand aghast al tbs
| grandeur of the victory.
| fa,,. ,,ofr,ral srif mont al and nllVSlpll.
| proDerly developed, with that invisible, in
| COMPREHENSIVE vet never-varying internal
monitor. to check and guide us, are certain
" capable OF. eiiecting, TO greater or less
| degree. benefit to man. The most lOath-
some reptile that draws its body over the
dust of the earth-the monarch of animals
that roams unmolested through the wilder
ness-the smallest insect that floats in the
golden sunlight of heaven-the proudest
| bird that laves its piniOns in the breeZes OF
the fine ocean and strikes wi Its talOns al
the sun-all have their work to do, each his
individual part to execute. The Lord OF
| hosts made them fo- his own glory. How
much more accountable will man be held
for negligence in improving his eXtraOrdi-
nary endowments? Man, the keystone OF
the beautiful arch, begun at the beginning
NAH the liz AASNANN7e u
creation, the most perfect Of the conceptions
dare not slight the purpose for which he
was designed-to be good and useful to his
brother. What an extensive and glorious
field our profession opens TO the diligent
earnest worker. i conscientious discharge
Of his duty IS an absolute surety OF his ac-
ceptance with his citizens, himself and ms
Author.
His moral responsibility assumes al
times the dimensions of the clergy; and
many grateful smile-the exponent OF re-
membrane lastingas life itself, will be
added TO his other emoluments. In the
early DAYS of the creation, when the planets
held their jubilee over the new born world,
and onr forefathers basked in the golden
lanquor of
EDEN'S DELICIOUS CLINE,
medicine had its beginning. Gathering
strength in the onward march OF time and
adding new yotaries to its ranks IN each
successive generation. and finally shaking
| itself loose from the embrace of philosophy
il announced itself to the world an indie
pendent and self-sustaininc science. Ever
has its nrogress eaualled that of its sister
sciences and it could always boast of as dis
tingfished constituents as ever Graced the
Il ldLlkS OF any llD4tsSltlts ~ CIV EoNN N'NA
a succinct compendium Of medical history
would encroach too much upon our time
The subject is alluring and replete with IN
terest to every medical man, yet we mus
put the temptation from lis. Time and
again has it been rehearsed to Tho
audiences assembled on such Oc
casions; and we feel 'twOuld be I'M
necessary in a farewell to dilate upoT
A subject which can be studied with moI
satisfaction during the leisure hours Of YOU
early practice. Such period, we are as
sured, is always present while the young
practitioner is laying the foundations TO
his future eminence.
As we have already declared our cOnyie
| ton that the road TO lasting honor is good
ness and usefulness. permit us here TO in
troduce 4 few familiar examples, cOntinin.
ourselves strictly to the territory OF medi
cine. RELYING upon the accuracy Of In
own observation and disTegarding all cur
rent dogInas, HippOcrates, tie inst, AM
MAJ we not say the greatest architect II
the medical structure, to whom the work.
delights to give honor, Will ever live in tn
| ,ya4r fr, II