Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1882-06-02
FROM THE MEDICAL BRIEF.
4 plea for the Physician.
By j. ATKINSON, NJ. y.

The calling ola physician is laborious one.
and one involving ii great deal of exposure and
Irreg ularity of living. While the work OF
other men ends at the setting Of the sun, the
labor of the physician is never done. While
Others are sleeping comfortably in their beds,
the busy practitioner is ma king his lonely
rounds or watching anXiouslv at the bedside
of his patient, fighting back the grim monster
at his own hazard Our avocation knows
neither night nor Sabbath. hen an individual
decides TO practice medicine, he SurrendeGS all
liberties and personal comfort and privilege -
His is, henceturl, life of toll aud selt-deuiaI.
Others may take their recreation and ENJOY
their vacation and destinations" hut Il e
physician must toregO all these, and labor on
IN the monOtonOus routine OF professional duty
and privatiOn. lie knows not Mt what hour
his services may he needed and his patron
and his business suffer by his absence
Ours is, too, an unthanktul one. Phy>i-
clans as rule, are not appreciated. They are
made exceptions to all general rules They
are the only class OF men who are expected to
labor for nothing and furnish themselves The
world thinks and speaks harshy of the doctor
who refuses 10 visit aud treat the man who is
known to be mot good for bis contracts -
Why should physicians work for nothing more
than other men ; 1t Is forgotten that the res
possibility in such cases j. upon the party " h.
by his conduct has made for himself the ,pu-
tatiOn OF "A Spendthrltt or IA bankrupt. Al
things considered, physicians are the most
poorly remunerated Of all men. 1t is worth
nothing 10 spend years of study aad research
in preparing one ; self for the duties OF his
calling, and then take his life in his hand and
so forth into danger, and often into the very
Jaws OF death Suppose you should be in
search Of employment
IL man oilers In .py,.ura IN. "a,
forms You that YOU are TO rise at The hour Of
midnight and go TO WORK, if he sees proper 10
call you up ut that unreasonable hour. that
you are 10 labor on through all inclemeu,ics Of
the weather, and that you are To have no
regu ar time for retre,hmeut and sleep; thai
there is 10 he for you no peaceful quie, Sabbath
for rest and Devotion " hat would YOU char ge
or such services And yet those nre rhe ny
ing conditions uud-r which tie physician
abo : and Ii eQucntly tor mere pitlaucc. How
often Is 1t the case, also, that the physician
goes home and SONS the seeds OF disease and
death in his own beloved tlmily circle
When epidemic coptagion sweeps The coun-
try. and the black wing Of the messenger OF
death IS tapping over the continent, il i con
Siiered perfectly in der for every Que else 10
pack up aud run away. nor stand on the
order O: his going but the physician j *.
pcc'rd 10 stand upright. on both his feet, his
face square 10 the front. and brave the danger
Ours Is hi-h and holy calling. and We 90
from house @ house administering to the wants
OF thr sicA and DYING. We console ourselves that
We are Making ia the footsteps OF the Great
Physician. who went a-oat doing good 90
ant though Ne he poorly rcmunsrt'vd here We
shall doHtllrSs t" amply rcPstd IN The great
hereafter, TO which W. are . Fastening. ben
every one shall be judged according 10 hi,
work. whether II lee good ar t+i Physicians
sre the most charitable OF al, men The cry
Il the IS iiow and the orphan are never heard
ia vain tv tlIs noble class of sel'->lcfihc-
ing men EHi there Is no charity in doing
the prtc'ics o! family gratis in whl,h lrrsr
are, perhaps, uuc or severed aI'a-huli-i males
ss able 30 work as the Aorgos himself The
relation o. Family pHy.iglau is "A very .u,iuar,
and dear oue. Although he j. familiar with
ali The family reruia'5'.r- anI SECRETS, and D.,
admitted g. 81. 'ae p tv,,irs 81 isr ha4-stoA
vet. - Ihs credit - rar Profession lee i; sid.
not oar time .a , 'h,asaoj = advantage r..A-t.
u ;hl- liberty. ur. ], rh.. caudt ,gs.c abused
My uaur 90 90, csr- ser-a 81, t. bring rtrruari
aPou OFF .5tu,,rI. "a ceiling Nrv We nryrr
degrade 1t ty usAcF-chtF-'p- aul m4g ua,
ear he oycn to the touching appeal ii ,he faith.
esS aud GItn-