The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-10-09
Ethics Of Medical Men.

Rev. Dr.. Howard Crosby delivered the
introductory OF the course Of lectures be.
fore the Medical DEPARTMENT Of the Uni.
versity Ofthe City OF New York, recently.
The lecture contains some valuable sug.
gestions suitable for any locality, " as the
almauacs say. The Doctor l5ughingly
deprecated the invitation to address stu.
dents Of profession so different from the
one to which he belonged, but he showed
that "a doctor Of medicine may learn from
doctor OF divinity, We quote some
observation as TO errors which may be
corrected:
First, personal uncleanliness, In the
sick room everything should be 80 pre-
senied as TO cheer the Invalid. Each sur
rounding should be neat and clean. How
can this be so If the breath OF the physi-
clan is stained with tobacco, or II his shirt
bosom is soiled with the scattering Of
eggs, # he touches the person OF his
patient with soiIed hands? The second
Is brusqueness-entering the sick room
like tornado, and uttering harsh "How
are youp The physician should have
both the strength Of Esculapius and the
polish Of Apollo, Too often young men
are apt to think that by initiating the Pc
culiarities and faults Of the great they
make themselves great also. The cele'
brated surgeon, John Abernethy, was rude
but his brilliant attainments made the
fault tolerable. II young man should
start TO initiate Abernethy, instead OF the
many virtues concealing the fault, We
should generally find nothing there bul
the rudeness. The third error is gossip
ing in the sick room. Ii the patient Is
too weak to keep up the end OF his con
versatiOn, there is generally nurse or q
mother.in.law who is ready to take hi'
part. How many have died from the
same disease and its phases are discussed
until the ievered, wearied patient tosse'
in his bed in perfect agony. A great charm
is brevi;y and directness, whether in the
minister's sermon or in the doctors visit
Clearness in directing, breyity in speaking
Of outside matters, an interest in the symp'
toms OF the case command the sick mans
respect and confidence, ! should not feel
safe in storm at sea in ship whose pilot
was willing to gossip with the passengers
as when, with his hand on the wheel, h
galed intently on the storm.
There is another Kind to be avoided
the solemn practitioner. He enters III,
sick chamber like malaria and depart,
leaving behind a grave.like CLEANLINESS
Let the doctor enter the sick room likt
the advent OF a spring morning, making
his whole pathway bright and cheerful
Again, avoid an assumption Of mystery
II your patient is troubled with hatulence
don't put on an Owlish look and sugges
a possibility Of cancer. II you don
know what is the matter with the patient
say so, and he will take an interest il
| following your honest Investigations
Don't put on the modification OF thu
Sphynx. 1t has often been a question
whether the patient should be informed o
the approach OF death, say yes, certain
| ", il that approach be certain. II yol
can do no more for your patient, you are
at least bound to give him as much tim,
az possible to prepare himself for th,
hereafter. Among doctors there SHOULD
be no strife. The same studies SHOULD
make you band Of brothers. But il i
a notorious fact that 1t Is not so. cal
only allude to the fact; to go into it fur
Their would be like interfering in tn
quarrel Of husband and wife, and to with
stand both sides one would need the thicI
skin Of the rhinoceros.