National Republican., 1883-03-16
MORE DOCTORS.
Commencement Of the Medical Department Of
Columbian University.
Lincoln Hail Filled with the Friends OF
the Graduatcs-The Addresses Made.

cises of the National medical college (medi-
cal department of Columbian university were
held Mt Lincoln hall last night The entire
seating capacity of the large auditorium was
brought into requisition for the accommoda-
tion of the friends of the graduates and of
the college, and among the sea of faces could
be distinguished those of numerous persons
prominent in official and civil life.
The stage was handsomely decorated with
growing evergreens, and behind the footlights
was an exquisite bank of the floral offerings
to the graduates. The center pieco was u
large harp of roses and lilies of the valley
and on either side were ranged various appro-
pirate emblems formed of ofconservatory sweets,
Upon the stage were seated President Well
ing the Rov. DIR. Cuthbert. Prof A. Il. A.
King, Prof William Lee, Prof Elliott Coues,
Prof Montague, Surg Gen. Crane, Dr.
Frank Hyatt, DR.. ID. w. Prentiss, Dr.
w. w. Johnston, DIR. 4. ID. Fristoe,
Dr. George n. AclSer, Dr. W. p. LAWYER, DIR.
A. c. Adams, DIR. Frank Baker, DR.. Schaefer,
and the members of the graduating class, and
the uuder graduates who passed satisfactory
examination on the primary branches. At
1880 Wcber's archestra played Boettgcr's Eu-
reka, selections from lolanthe, and Wagner's
Niebelungen; after which the Rev. DIR.
Cuthbert delivered tho prayer.
Ub utkIttS OF uOClOIb VI lutulCluc NeIt
conferred by President j. c. yelling, LII. d.,
of Columbia college. He briefly addressed
the young men, and then
PRESENTED THE DIPLOMAS AS FOLLOWS:
William c. Borden, ofNew York Harry G. Cor
he II, OF Virginia. Middleton f. Cuthbort, of Dis
trict Of Columbia; William H. Miller, OF District
Of Columbia; Reginald Muuson, of Virginia;
Richard a. Pyles Of Maryland; Daniel X Shute,
of DisIIict Of Cqlumbia Philip q, Wales, Of Dis;
trCt of COlumbiu; Edward Il. Womersley, of
MuSgnplugpttg. RFygDn Wood a
He also presented certificates to the follow
ing gentlemen who had passed satisfactory
examination on the primary branches:
Thomas A. Berryhlll. of Missouri William H.
Fox, OF District of Columbia; Revere II. Gurley,Uf
Virginia; Henry $. 4. Harris, of Pennsylvania ;
Waiter II. lllman, of ofPennsylvania; Henry b. No
Bile, of District of Columbia Millard f. Thomp-
son, OF District of Columbia, and Joseph X. Wal
ton, Of District Of Columbia.
Prof A. +. A. King, NJ. D., dean of the
faculty, delivered
THE ADDRESS To THE GRADUATES.
In aluding to the student life of the new
physicians he said Even the dingy walls
of the now forsaken laboratory with its hy-
drogen and sulphur flames its iodine and
chlorine vapors are all embalmed with some
thing of u fragrant recollection. Amid the
bcwildcring catalogue of graphic symbols,
molecular weights, synthetic amalgama.
tions, and the love and hatred of atoms, can
eflervesence the alkali flew to unite with the
acid, and with what pleasureabe anticipation
you patiently watched for the crystallizing
salt?" He spoke in the same pleasant humOr-
Gus manner of their past, and proceeded to
give them wholesome advice for future
thought Unfortunately combined practical
knowledge and skill are not always passports
to professional success. The comparative SER
vices which physician renders cannot be
justly appraised by an nskillcd and un.
taught community. The people are not to
blame, nor are they ungratGlul.
The tendency very often Is to overvalue
the actual worth of services, and this over
valuation is not always determined by the
real danger of the case being treated, but
rather by the amount of danger and difficulty
which circumstances may have induced the
patient to imagine were present A physician
may, therefore, obtain credit for great skill
where none is expended, or, vice versa only
! receive little commendation where the
greatest nicely of judgment may be required
at cost of endless trouble and prolonged
| study.
The number of recoveries Of patients is not
a fair criterion of professional skill Simply tC
recover is u very bare and lame result, how.
ever devoutly it may be preferred to the other
| alternative. The duration of Illness the
severity and complication of tho disease the
rapidity Of convalescence, the amount of pain
suffered, and many other considerations must
be fairly weighed before the intrinsic value o
the treatment in any case can be even ap
proximatcly estimated.
Young physicians must expect rebufIs and
suffer underestimation. physician must
adapt himself to his environment by conform
ing, rs far as may be consistent with his dig
nifty and integrity, not only to tho actua
wants Of individuals, but also to thcil
wishes and pleasures, even to their &c
.a.s.t sAH fl.Aap II
whims. Tho visit of physician
is necessity, but it may nevertheless bC
made very pleasant one. In word
physician is binary cOmpound-one hal
physician and the other half gentleman--ant
II has never yet been definitely settled whicl
half most contributes to his success, thougl
probably physic will be found in the lighte
scale.
Prof. King said most people thought th
practice of medicine was n most fascinating
and agreeable occupation. Every one look
up to the physician; he Is infinitely re
spectcd; the living revere him and his deaC
tell no tales but he assured the students tina
to be successful they must look forward to
great deal of hard work and anxiety. ii
also advised them to keep a record of thei
cases; their peculiarties and their treamen
for future reference and future pleasure. II
told them to always read over their prescrip
tiOns twice and write instructions fully upol
them and gave them world of advice bene
fetal to them in after life. His address wa
replete with humor and was frequently inter
rupted with applause.
After q selection by the orchestra, Nh
Phillip Il. Wales delivered
THE vALEDIcToRY.
He said the launching of class of NJ. D.
upon the sea of life was an Oft-repeated CerC
mony, but he felt the good wishes of all wer
with ten new keels which had Just cut Tn
waves For ourselves, he said, we look hope
fully upon the future, as surely all the breez
of success has not been absorbed by the man
medical sail we see all around us, nor hay
all the ports and harbOrs of intellcctualit
= been filled with ships, nor the sphere Of us(
, fulness fully occupied. There is room for te
! more when we remember that human natuI
has not yet reached that lofty goal of perfel
ton toward which our hopes and energies al
Z and have ever been earnestly directed. Whe
. that goal is reached the representatives of til
8 medical profession will by no means be III
least who have brought about this happy stat
by their genius. He asked that when h
- hearers went through the streets aud saw
: freshly gilded sign with M. d." upon it NJ
| to think its owner was n depraved or nferiC
4 person who by spending his time cutting u
I the dead and cOldly watching suffering
=, the bedside had become hardened an
! had lost the divine element of pity. He wi
Z probably be young man who only desires
q rise by benehting others. The study of med
l. cine Is elevating and enrolling. A disse
u ton, although revolving at first thought, is
= lesson in practical morality and an argumel
o in philosophy. The elevation Of the huma
$ race can be most easily accomplished whC
G the lawyer, the minister, the physician, al