The Portland daily press., 1883-06-01
Professional Training and Work
Address Delivered by G. #. Libby, Esq.
before the Graduating Glass of the
Maine Medical School May 3oth.

~ 10 Win some neSllaLlon That have ac-
cepted the invitation TO address you at this
time. As have felt that it was almost an
intrusion for lawyer to attempt 10 speak to
the members of the medical profession on
matters which are not recognized as within
his peculiar field and have only yielded in
the hope that what have to say may tend
TO bring about freer Interchange of views
on matters of common interest, and pro-
mote the friendly and intimate relations
which have always existed between the
members Of the two professions.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND WORK
In this nineteenth century the professions
have no reason for existing unless they fur
nlsh the community with men of superior
attachments in their respective felds,-men
who know good deal more than the aver
age man about matters which are essential
to the well-being and prosperity of the race,
men who are experts in fact as well as in
name. In the progress of civilization the
| standard of knowledge has been constantly
advancing. The common truths of to-day
were the advanced truths of yesterday. The
average intellectual inheritance of this gem
Grafton is far greater than that of the gener-
atoms that have preceded it. The race has
been steadily pushed along in its intellectual
march, so that each succeeding generation
starts from more advanced standpoint All
classes and conditions of men share in this
advancement. 1t has opened up larger in
tellectual horizon to the race, but this en-
largement of the field has also led up to
greater subdivision OF labor. Professional
work is becoming more aud more subdivided
specialists are sprlnging up In every de-
partment. As result of this condition of
things professional education is becoming
more exacting and thorough. 1t is getting
farther aud farther away from the ordinary
range OF educational work, 1t presupposes
that certain preliminary work has been
| done before men enter upon the special
/ work of the professions. IL starts whea ell
| ementary and general education leave off,
and builds upon the foundation which the
| latter has furnished. Upon the bre ldth and
| soldity of this foundation the character of
| the superstructure largely depends.
A thorough preliminary education is one
| of the conditions of professional success.
| do not mean by this that classical or col
| legiate education is indispensable for men
| who enter the professions but do believe
| that thorough mental training and generous
| culture, whether obtained inside or outside
of a college, are the necessary preparat on
| for the best professional work.
| Schools and colleges are only aids in ac-
| comprising this result. The work can be
| done without their assistance, but it is rare
| ly so accomplished, and then only by minds
| of exceptional yigor and intelligence. Few
l
| The human mind is a peculiar organ, and is
susceptible of very eccentric and uusymmet-
| rical development. Its action, when not con-
| trolled by wise system of checks and bal
| anees, which only broad and thorough ed
| ucation can give, is often erraiic and I'M
/ trustworthy. 1t is prone TO jump at hasty
| conclusions. 1t is impatient of the restraint
| imposed by logical processes. 1t does not
| yield readily to the demands of scientific in
| mir Il of,lx hxrc dscai nlf hat IL
can be taught to adopt the attitude of care
full and unprejudiced observer, and to con-
| form to the requirements of scientific proof.
Not only is the average mind incapable of
broad generalizations, but it too often fails
| to draw the correct conclusions from premise
| which are furnished; and yet the ability to
reason correctly is what education is intend
| ed to give, and the want of it is one of the
serious drawbacks to students in the profes
| sions.
The great difficulty in the professions to
| day is too low a standard Of preparatory
| work. Men come to the study If the profess
| sions without the previous mental training
| and discipline necessary TO a clear under
| standing of the nature and scope of their
| work. They are still in the nebular stage of
| development. Their conceptions are vague
| and hazy. Their grasp of principles is
| weak and uncertain. Their whole mental
| machinery seems to lack logical exactness
| and precision. These are deficiencies which
| l notice in students of law, and / doubt not
| that the same must be more or less true of
| students of medicine. Some of these de-
feels are undoubtedly partially cured in the
| course OF professional study. but many Of
them become permanent AMI inhere in all
| subsequent work. So far as the question:
| which Of the two professions furnishes bet
| ter opportunities for the correction Of these
| evils-is concerned, cannot but think that
the advantage lies largely with the study of
medicine. It's methods are not favorable to
loose thinking. 1t deals with phenomena
| which illustrate the operation of immutable
| laws. 1t requires habits of close and accur-
ate observation. It teaches the force of the
/ syllogism by example, a d in a way which
/ the common law, with its proud boast of be-
/ ing ssthe perfection of human reasonn can
| never equal. Nature never yields to expedi-
| ency-she is blind TO human passion and ig-
| ncrance-she works out her purposes regard
| less Of human prejudice and frailty No
| matter how mysterious her processes, or APP
/ parently abnormal her actior-underneath
all her changing phenomena lies the ground
| work Of unvarying law.
| The student of law, however, finds no such
| ground to rest upon. be is dealing with the
| shifting institutions of society-witli arbitra-
| ry systems and theories-with laws which
| embody the ignorance and preiudices of the
| race-with errors which too often have moth
| ing but antiquity to recommend them. He
is oppressed by the intellectual vagaries Of
| the past. 1t is hard for him 10 see the per-
maDent element in all these shifting scenes
/ to detect the "unceasiug purpose run
| ming through this strange medley OK contra
| diciory codes and institutions. And yet,
| even here, the immutable laws of nature are
working themselves out, shaping the iDsti-
| tutions of men, and moulding to her will
.t,,I. ct
/ large way as to escape ordinary observa
| tIon. 1t is difficult sometimes TO see the
s'logic of events" but the logic Is there If
| we only know how to find it: and we are at
| last beginning to learn that mind as well as
/ matter is subject to the domain of law, and
| that this is true even Of the operations of
| consciousness as it unfolds itself In the bis
tory Of the race.
Not only has there been a gradual adj
vance CT the race in knowledge, bat the
| standard of professional requirements has
also been advancing. Success 10 the profess
| sions to-day demands larger mental out
| lay and capital than was formerly the case.
/ The professional man must not only know
/ more, but he must also know accurately
| what he pretends to know. The day of smat-
| terers is going by. The times are not propi-
| tious for either pettifoggers or quacks.
| Thoroughness and accuracy are essential to
1
is almost as dangerous as ignorance--per-
| haps more dangerous, as it often leads men
| into dangers which conscious ignorance
| would avoid. Even the public is becoming
somewhat less tolerant Of professional hum
| bug, and is learning to weigh men lees by
their professions than by their works. Pre-
| tentious ignorance may have temporary
success, but cannot long sustain the strain
1 Of daily competition and test.
| A mans diploma means to-day that be Is
| master Of at least the common learning Of
| his profession. Ii he has not that, he has no
excuse for attempting TO practice BY as
| Stunning the title conferred by his degree he
| holds himself out TO the public as competent
to perform the ordinary duties of his profess
| sion. He is bound to possess ordinary skill,
| such skill as knowledge Of the well settled
| truths Of his science confers. Nothing less
| than this will satisfy che requirements Of the
| law. He caniiot she ter himself behind his
| degree as defence for ignorance or lack Of
| skill The rule is the same both as TO attor-
neys and physicians-f they practise their
| profession, they are bound TO possess the
| knowledge and skill necessary for the dis
| oh aff duffqc and this STAN