Connecticut western news., 1876-10-20
ADVICE TO YOUNG DOCTORS.
An Old Physician Gives tho Young RIem
 bers Some Healthy: Advice.

An Old PhysicIan Gives the Young RIem-
 bers Some Healthy: Advice.
 Never betray the confidence of pa tient, said Dr. Crosby to the members of the Bellevue College course. 1t may happen that you will be called into the courts to testify, sbut think our secrets should be kept as secret as those of the confessional. I should never testify except under express order of the court, and even then can imagine cases where I should prefer to pay the penalty of contempt of court and spend 8 season in jail than to betray the confidence of my patient. Even flaws and idiosyncrasies of character should never be exposed. Humor is very good thing in the sick room. It is much better to carry @ cheerful air and excite mild spasm of the diaphragm in the patient than to ap- pear like an undertaken. But, while humor is good thing and, as has been aptly said, "laughs with you," wit is. an edged instrument not to be used in the sick-room, for wit, unlike humor, "laughs at you." Another point of delicacy with young medical men is the question of frequency of visits. It is difficult to determine the just mean be- tween making more frequent visits to 8 patient than the family wants to pay for and making fewer than the case really needs. In this case adopt the golden rule, and " do unto others as you would they should do to you." If in your own case you should deem more visits proper, make them, and if not, stay away. Of course, there may be cases where the family or friends arc anxious to have you call oftener than is really necessary, but, if it is an understood thing, and you conscientiously inform them that the case does not really require so much attention, and still they persist, why then you will be justified in going six or ton or twelve times day, or even sleep 1 ing month in the house, and let them pay you for it. s' IN HOPELESS CASES.
 Beware of making scarecrows of your selves. A medical man should refrain from 8 doleful demeanor and not pre- sent the appearance of an undertaken on the verge of bankruptcy. To be sure there are times when it becomes neces- sary to give the signal of danger, but this should never be done by the doctor to the patient. Give the warning to some near and dear friend. The medi- cal man is relied on by the patient and for him to abandon the case as hopeless would be apt of itself to produce fatal depression and relapse. Confidence is everything, and there is often more ill the manner of giving medicine than in the medicine itself. The iMeurable cases are the most difficult and distress ing to the physician. He is conscious that sooner or later the enemy must win the battle, and he should conduct him self so that when the struggle is over he may be conscious of having smoothed the path and afforded all possible conso' lation. Consultations should be pro- noted, but the greatest good to the pa tient lies in the one man power. A young man who is intrusted with sole charge of case is likely to give greater enthusiasm and moro study to it than if he is obliged to lean constantly upon the opinion and assistance of older ID en. An important matter is the frequent ap- peals of patient approaching dissolu- tion for religious consolation. In those cases I would never, whatever my own religious convictions might be, tell a patient that the gray substance of the brain is the only God. Hold out some hope in such cases.
 KEEP CLEAN AND SOBER.
 Medical mon should be clean. There are @ number of first-class physicians who present second hand appearance. Soap is cheap and should be freely used. The moral effect of dirty doctor is horrible. Medical men should also be pure men. believe there is more aver age morality among our craft than exists in any other. For one renegade physi- ciap there are fifty renegade clergylnen. The physician whose purity is not above suspicion would not be admitted to practice in any family. From practicing honor out of expediency it eventually becomes easy to practice it for it's own sake. They should also be temperate. I don't believe any medical student is ever improved by smoking tobacco ol drinking rum. Not that would object to an occasional cigar or glass of wine once in @ while. But there are great temptations in city like this, and though I am aware that medical students are the most docile, lamblike and moral young men in the world, yet I am afraid they hear the strokes of the midnight clock oftener than is necessary.
 l QUACKS AND OTHER THINGS.
 The first professional success is the sweetest thing to young physician next to the first kiss. He is apt to feel 8 desire to publish it, to get his name in the newspapers, or to tell it at the street corner. If any of you should ever dc this, I would call you quacks, and shur you and go on the other side of the way. It is one of the courtesies of the profes- sion that one physician should attend another gratis. Dr. Alonzo Clark on one occasion pulled a young student through severe illness and refused to take g fee. "But I'm not regular doctor, said the young man; "1'm only stu dent, and not entitled to the favor. "Never mind," said Clark, "dogs don't eat puppies" It is an extraordinary fact that the greater number of medica men die of malpractice. They call othel physicians to attend them, younger me1 perhaps, who defer to the age and expe rience of their patients, and, fearing tt express their own opinion, do no trea with the confidence with which they would treat other cases. As to the treat ment of poor patients, there are man! cases where they have to be treated fret of charge. Do not shirk the poor, bu do not treat poor shirks. As to system of charges, remember that the laborer Ii
 worthy of his hire, but do not follow thu example of a distinguished doctor o New York city, who, when asked wba his charges were, replied: 'Why, ado up what I owe, and charge it." Expos quacks when they come in your way. l isn't necessary to go across the stree and drag the quack out of bed and scall him, but when you can, expose his pre- tensions; do it calmly and nationally never with anger. . -... .. .. .. How 1t Works. ... . "My friends" said a returned mis