Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-03-03

(. G. WATSON.
PRIZE FOR GRADUATE IN PHARMACY.
s. s. BAMBERGER.
PRIZES FOR UNDERGRADUATES.
Ar HAYWOOD.
= LAURIE.
- BOLTON.
DIR. Overall awarded the prizes, and paid
very handsome compliments to the winners.
"Nights Shade No Longer" chorus with
orchestra, was then rendered By 81. Peters
choir.
Dr. HENNING's ADDRESS.
DR.. B. G. Hennipg then delivered The fol.
lowing address:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-At the commence
meut exercises of medical colleges it has long been
the custo for q member of the faculty to deliver
an address, called charge, to the graduatesl
delivering on this occasion TO the graduating class
of the Memphis Hospital Medical College for the
sessions of 1923. These gentlemen now before
me are mostly strangers in our city, who came here
but short time since in pursuit of knowledge
of the science OF medicine, and l am proud to say
that they have proven themselves well worthy
of the confidence reposed in them namely: the
degree OF Doctor Of Medicine. The first
prerequisite for the degree is an upright, moral
Character which we believe them all to possess;
another. is an accurate knowledge OF the medical
science. 1t has been but few days since heard
one OF my colleagues, now present, say that this
had been the most etudious and attentive class
who had ever filed the amphitheater of our col
lege and within the past few days they have all
presented themselves for examination, and given
satisfactory evidence of their competency to wear
well the title of NJ. d. Therefore we, the Faculty
of the Memphis Hospital Medical College, feeling
that we have fulfilled our mission, cordially ex.
nd them s haPa q sFdngas
taking; but, ladies and gentlemen, 1t re-
mains for yon in future years to test their true
the highest rank of tine profession, by which alone
they can hope to obtain the only true reward OF
and afflicted Gentlemen of the graduating class,
for months past you have attentively listened to
me il the capacity of an humble contributor to
YOUR kno ledge OF medicine, and often have you
heard me ahude to the many and varied Tesponsi-
biities involved in the practice OF the healing ant
ion with all seriousness, to the magnitude OF the
great work that you have undertaken.
are almost beyond the reach of mortal man:
The phyEcian's sphere of action ascends high and
brings him at once into contact win tne NE OF
that awful responsibility when you are called
upon to take into your hands the earthly destiny
OF that man, the beloved husband, the honoreo
father the stay and support of wife and children
to you will be intrusted the valued lives OF fathes
mothers and innocent children, and through your
EnowIedge and skill they will be restored to health
from the ravages OF cisease or through your 1kno
rance and ineffciency be fastened into the dark
ness of premature grave. Medicine at best il an
Imperfect art and often is it that its most learned
| and skillful ministers who have buried them
| selves in the very depths OF its mysteries, are
made to feel their inability and to regret the linn
itation of their means of relief; and yet in the
hands of.skilliul lpraetitioners. medlcne must oe
| Diseases may be checked in their rSvages on the
| body of man. pain relieved aud life made endura-
BILE even liz those maladies fer which there is no
specific 1t has been said that physicians cure nc
disease but simply enable the system TO tolerate
the disease till nature effects the cure; even be
less boon to suffering mortals, and obr standing
as ministers of those agents is rendered all the
more responsible. 1t is not my object, gentlemen
/ to culogize the members of the profession but
to impress upon you the importance OF carefully
| ayailing yourself of all known means of relief
| which can only be accomplished by pursuing
diligently the course of studies just begun foui
| knowledge thus lar has been obtained BY rigc
poee manner of instruction, but henceforth in
YOUR future career, you are to rely on your own
Individual mental exertion, TO prepare yourselves
for the honorable discharge OF the obligations OF
4 physician; and assure you it requires Jealous
effort, even bordering on enthusiasm You can,
not per 'qsan reach the pinnacle tb OF me. mediea
/ knowledge by measured steps, bearing constan uy
in mind the object to be accomplished
science lie scattered vast field of inquiry
and are SO difficult to investigate that it requires
mind we'll disciplined and Stored with elementary
| knowledge 10 select and add only that which Is
L valuable TO the treasures OF hls mental r1ches
| You may gather knowledge and experience from
two main sources; first, from your own obseIva
/ tious which must of course be comparatively lin
ite1 though you be in full practice; the other de
will necessarily be the most opulent source. For
from that point Of vision may be seen the result
OF millions of workers and the truths Of cen
4
| lust here, let me caution you against som,
Of The sources of false facts" by which human
knowledge is often corrupted, namely, credulit,
| and superstition. Ignorance is the mother anC
nurse OF both, though they differ in some es entia
4 features CIedulity sanctions unsuostan tiated as
| sertions. The credufous physician Endorses ex
trayagant accounts of the virtues in drugs and al
lows himself 10 be led into error by the miraculou
| statements on the glossy label of patent medi
| cine bottle never once thinking how rdiculou
is the idea of having an epttome OF the who'll
11afin faedica in one small vial. The front shelye
of our drug stores are to day filled with new RENE
| be the pansceas Of al human ailments which ar
| calculated to mislead the too credulous practl
| toner. The magnetism Of Nesner, the elixir o
life of Psracelsus and the like are all indebted q
credulity for their source All drugs must soone
| OF later. find their places in the list Q
| remedies beneficial to mankind, but many, s
| mnch in fashion to-day, WILL ere many days hav
| passed, be consigned to deserted fate of FORGE
| fulness. We must all agree with the inustriou
1 sydenhsm, that the practice of physie chief