Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-02

The address of DIR. Heber Jones then fol
lowed. 1t was a most sensible and felicit-
Gus address to the student, and proved to be
the interesting feature of the evening. I'm
like most discourses of the kind, it was full
of crisp thought and calculated to afford
guidance 10 the young physicians. 1t was SO
excellent that the APPEAL takes pleasure in
publishing it. The following is the address
in full:
Gentlemen of the Glass of 1sSl-s2:
1 have been chosen by the faculty of our
college to address you on this occasion, and
do assure you, without any affectation of
modesty, that i attempt with many misgiv-
ings the duty which has been assigned me,
1t is customary at the close of the session in
all medical colleges for some one of the
teachers to deliver valedictory address to
the class. This address may be appropri.
ately considered the closing advice TO the
young graduate, or charge" as to the con-
duct of his future life. This may embrace
advice, not only upon professional matters,
but general suggestions concerning the whole
conduct of your lives. Certainly this can
not be undertaken (by me at least) without
deep sense OF the responsible duty assigned
me. In a short address like this, of course,
can merely set few mile-posts, as it were,
aud allow you to fill out the interspaces.
Some years hence, when you recall the days
just past, in spite of any remembered
and conscientiousness in study,
/ think you will not fail to realize that one
which was beyond your oItreaching
thought for the future) was then lacking.
You will then realize the fact that in those
by-gone days you did not feel the profound
sense of the responsibility which rests upon
the members of your chosen profession;
you will see that you did not then possess
keen appreciation of the duties of the physi-
clan; you did not then appreciate the fact
that in his hands repOse the health, the hap
piness, nay, the lives of his best friends.
The medical student but vaguely feels the
meaning of his preparation. He must be-
come practitioner before his heretofore I'M
real sense of absolute duty takes form and
shape. wish it were not so. / wish medi-
,al education could include lessons upon
duty as real, as actual, as the necessity for
familiarity with the course of an artery,
with the first sound OF the heart, with
he respiratory murmur of a healthy
Jung, etc. But the medical college
IS only a primary school, in which
merely the intellect and not the conscience
Of the student is developed. 1t is place in
which he, like the squirrel or bear, stores up
food for future assimilation. And so the
student mind contains only raw material
until the day comes when, leaders and teach
ers gone, books of no use, the young doctor
is lett to self dependence. Picture yourself
this to be an only child, a daughter, beauti-
iul in form and feature, lovely in disposition,
gifted, surrounded by every comfort and lux
1ry wealth can give. You have been the
medical adviser from her infancy, and have
learned to love her. Fancy her stricken
with some acute disease; her life hangs upon
a thread. The mother, pale with anguish,
her cheeks bathed in tears, her voice choked
With grief, appeals to you in touching lam
guage mingled with prayers, implores you in
words, by acts and by looks to save her child.
The stern father melts into tears, and
ne, too, beseeches you to save his
,hild. Sympathlzing friends gather around
and endeavor to console the bereaved
mother, but failing in this they soon mingle
heir tears with hers. 1t is then, gentlemen,
hat the feeling of responsibility and the
'ense OF duty begin TO develop. The consci-
entious physician begins to see something
beyond the mere need of diagnosis and tenn
oorary relief. 1t is then, gentlemen, that
FOUR conscience will smite you If you have
lot turned to good account the advantages
If the past. 1t is then that you will resolve
o improve your talents in the future. The
profession you have chosen is jealous mis-
ress, and will not tolerate a divided hon.
lge. Human experience in every walk of
lie teaches the memorable lesson: il is
abor only that conquers. For the physician,
devotion TO his science means nothing more
nor less than the conservation of his time
and intellect TO the service OF his profession.
For him attention to other affairs signifies
neglect OF the one supreme purpose. Does
society divide his affections with medi-
cine? The practitioner who would rise to
.minence must largely will not say
wholly deny himself the pleasures Of social
life. For him the evening visits, balls,
parties, the soiree, the opera-in fact, the
endless chain OF social attractions, with
heir beautiful associations, must be relin-
pushed for the library, the dissecting-room,
he laboratory, in short, all the parapher-
lalia of professional life. In fiction the
ioctor is rarely sentimental hero; but he
appears appropriately in the tragedies of
life as helper of the distressed. He NAV
contribute effectively to dramatic situations.
1ut the sobriety and realism of his character
ire not in harmony with the gaiety and var
lish of social life. But if the doctor NAV
lot devote himself to society, he must not
gnore its customs. Ii an ability to dance
he german does not introduce physician
o the patronage Of the highest circles, he
viii never reach that coveted position with
,ut at least the manners of polite society.
g it politics that draws him from pro-
essionsl pursuits? No influence can
,e more fatal. The political doctor
s never great physician. To this
Tou might reply that Trousseau was
member OF the French assembly, and
yirchow is now a delegate to the German
imperial parliament. Admit that these are
wo glaring exceptions; this does not de-
troy the rule More than this, Trousseau.
liter embarking in politics, contributed
nothing to our science which Will enhance
lis fame, and Virchow seems destined TO re-
BEAT the same experience. Medical politics
s hardly less hurtful. He who sspires to
manage the affairs of medical bodies, local,
State and national; to procure appointments
o medical positions, or to defeat them; to
make his own and the reputation of his
riends, and to destroy the good name of
iTals; TO build up this medical school, and
" unfair means break down that; in short,
our medical politician has little time and
ess inclination for the hard toll which alone
viii lead to medical learning. To discharge
he simple duties of good citizen, and
o exercise a Legitimate influence in