Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg Court House [S.C.]) 1877-1881, 1879-10-10
The Good Wc2 Of a Profession.

ihousailNS III people everywhere
will acknowledge the juStnc=s OF ID
following tribute to certain protes-
sional class /:
The Family IHgsici;on.--lIc is but
man; he pursucs Il science found ed
Oh shifting sands; his work is largely
experimental, and in many places he
gropcs in more than twilight gloom
But to our ignorant hclpIcsaneSs his
limited knowledge seems 10 be the
clear sight of god, his slightest
avermeEt thing to treasure Up and
consider carefully for its store of
truth, his decision an affair rs immu-
table as the laws Of the Universe. If
VIC die, we cling to his hand us we
step into the dark river, while he is
like the comforting rod and staff Of
the Scripture; if we live, we feel as
through his determination anl be-
cause of his effort.
Not tnat we ignore, By any means,
the great and mcrcirul Power behind
linn; but VIC recognize him rs the
agent of that Power, who has put
into his hands, as it were, the issues
of birth and the grave.
The doctor, nd ID, seems TO us un.
like all other men. He is impcrsonal
as spirit. We send for him in oar
troubles; we go to him with our gricv-
anccs; we confess to him the ailm,nts
We would hide from all the world; wc
no more try to ''puL the hest foot for
ward, with him than we would il he
were omniscient, for we are awlrc
that unless he sees us rs we are, he
can afford US no aid. lie, indeed,
and no other, is the "Tomb Of Sc
crets." He is acquainted with the
inner rcccsses of households, with the
histories Of tortured lives; ne know;
over what homo peace broods; no
knows where neglect and contention
and abuse work havoc, and where
dark stains run in the bloc from
generation to generation, to reveal
Themselves some day in foul fungus
or disiraight brain. To all he brings
a consolation Of his own, q delicate
sympathy, promise Of the VIII ole
that he has an assurance Of best effort,
n sense that everything which skill
and science can do is being done, and
that the rest is only in the hands Of
God.
And when we arc in the dreadful
presence of some sickness whose un-
known issues touches upon the awful
mysteries Of death, who is there that
comes into the room SO like the com
mandcr OF the forces of light, scatter
ing those Of darkness. as tho family
physician? Who seems, like i'm to
be the actual vicegerent Of the great
spirit of good, fighting the inroads of
evil? How he labors, how, inde!a,ig-
able lie is, how he suffers with us, and
wrestIes with fate for us! He rises
in tho dead Of night, perhaps to walk
through the furious storm perhaps to
skate over frozen rivers, perhaps to
drive miles in biting wintry winds.
Light comes in with him, hen, out
OF the thick darkness. In the morn
ing he brings in the outside vigor Of
the healthy world. He is sure to
como aud give us reinsurance lust
when the sun is departing and taking
all our little cheer with him rs the
dreadful night sets in again. And
when the balance hangs SO that Il
hairs weight may incline it either
way, up into the happy light or down
into the dark region where all abau
don hope, then he spends slecpless
nights beside us, dscards less serious
matters, ia away only on flying visits,
makes our woes hi; own, and mani
tests on his errand ofmercy all the
devotion of love.
And what motives arc they that urge
him to this sublime usefulness, thi,
work ofsufferng? 1t can be only the
love Of science and love of his fellow
men that spur him to this heroic duty,
to this unfailinr sacrifice. and bnyouI