Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-11
The ideal PHI YSiciau

WHAT DR. REYBURN SAID TO THE HOWARD MEDI-
CAL GRADUATEs-THE NECESSITY OF NOBLE
EFFORT AND HIGH ASPIRATIONS
The members of the class who graduated from
the medical department of Howard University
last Tuesday evening were started upon their
professional life well equipped with good pro-
fessional principles, If they only adopted the
advice aud rules Of action laid down by DR..
Robert Reyburn in his address to the class. 81
would not, on an occasion like this" said DR..
Reyburn, Say word to dampen your ardor.
to dull your enthusiasm, or even to say to you
that many of the cherished hopes and ambi-
lions now nurtured within your bosoms will
never be realized. Far from this would say
to everyone of you, to cherish the highest ideal
of your profession and of your future career,
that it is possible for you to do.
NO man ever yet surpassed his ideal of life, all
of us fall far below, and he is much more likely
to reach high standard in practical life who
aims high. than one whose ambitions are base
and groyelling. One thing is objectionable in q
young physician, and that is to look upon his
profession merely as trade, whereby so much
money can be made. This is base and low idea
OF the profession of medicine, and one which |
would earnestly enjOin upon you to abhOr
and despise; but it may be said physicians are
like other people,-they render certain services
for which they receive an equivalent compensa-
ton. While this is partially true, yet, like many
other partial truths. it is worse than false
hood. tor it wears the livery of Heaven to serve
the devil in. it deceives whilst claiming to be
putting on the semblance of the truth
say to you, on the contrary. that we often
render services that no money ever does or can
repay When you fail even to avert death, and
day by day, with confidence and calmness in
the presence OF your patient you are far from
feeling you fight manfully each day what you
know will be losing battle; YOURS is the hard
task to smooth the pathway to the grave as
suaging if you cannot prevent the inevitable
panSs and pains of death. Does money pay for
services like this? When You, by your skill and
mnistratiOns, have saved the life of her first
born, does the mother think that the compensa-
ton she gives you is an equivalent? BY no
means. When you have saved the life of the be-
loved husband or wife; they do not, nor ought
not, to estimate your services in money value
alone, but with tribute Of affection and respect
that is shown to no other class of men but ply
sicians."
Speaking of the necessity OF effort. DR.. Rey-
burn said:-"Many men dawdlethrough life see
ing others who started far behind them IN the
race, far SURPRISING them, and never discover
until far too late that the fault is in themselves
Emerson, in one of his noble essays. saws YOU
can have anything in this life that you want. but
you must pay the price for it. The price you
must pay for success in the practice of medicine
Is earnest and continuous labor. The great
John Hunter was SO jealous in his profession
that he scarcely spared the time for his wedding
day. In fact he visited his wards in the hos
pftal as usual on the very day of the ceremony.
Virchow, one OF the greatest names in modern
medicine, was SO enthusiastic during the earlier
portion OF his career. that for years he silent on
narrow board on the floor of his laboratory in
order to save more time for his studies"