The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-29
GRADUATING PHYSICIANS.
Fourteenth Annual Commencement OF
the Medical College Of Indiana.
Interesting Addresses by Governor Porter
and Hon. Will Cumback-The Gradu-
ates and Presentation of Prizes.

yesterday afternoon. There was large
attendance of ladies and gentlemen
who were interested in the formal professional
! debut of the young gentlemen who composed
the class. On the stage which was appropriate
Iy decorated were the members of the faculty,
and the class and several prominent gentlemen.
The exercises began with an overture by Pro
fessor Millers orchestra, after which Rev.
James Mcleod invoked the divine blessing.
Governor Porter. who was announced for the
opening address, very appropriately refrained
from a set speech, combining himself to a few
general observations, in the course of which he
said
GOVERNOR PoRTER's ADDRESS.
When Dr. Comingor did me the honor to in
wife me to be present to-day 1 did not under
stand that 1 was to be placed on the programme
for an address. And when first saw the pro-
gramme, few moments since, 1 was little
puzzled over the selection of speakers. Of
course I knew why it was fit that DR.. Comingor
should be placed on the programme-he is en-
insnt as physician But Colonel Cumback and
myself are not doctors l. however, quickly re
Insmbered that in Colonel Cumback's county a
new. disease had lately broken out Now, as your
medical books state, within the period of
authentic history new disease has appeared
or disease wholly disappeared; and therefore,
to have discovered new disease brings man
into conspicuity / am told that recently when
the Colonel asked one of his clients how his
family were, that he was told they were all down
with the dipithery. Laughter OF course,
the Colonel is here to tell us all that he knows
abOat the dipithery Laughter. Why l
sl,ould have been selected as a speaker l don't
ar + bpcauSA | a shining
pie of the good effects of total abstinence from
medicine. l have physician who believes
much in what is now popularity
IlGswn as preventive medicine The medi-
cine he prescribes is good, sound advice
instead of drugs. He reminds me of very
blunt but sensible physician that L knew at
Washington. Peter Parker, a prominent citi-
zen, met him one day and said to him: Doctor
/ believe 1 am about to have cerebral hyper
seraia ," ''Then," said the doctor II advise you
a0t 20 stand on your head Laughter. The
good advice which leads to the prevention of
sickness, and the precautions which often dis
pense with the necessity for drugs, should be
pad for as generously as pills and doses
The wonderful discoveries made within the
'lasl few years. and the encouragement they give
SH to hope that many and greater may re-
+; ward the new scientific methods of med
! 1sas research, have awakened a fresh
interest in medical science and made the med
iczl profession the most interesting of the pro-
fesslons The discovery of chloroform and its
! Ensaa1nd3 The germ theory of diseases, which
rs Ssing, l believe, generally adopted, showing
the causes of many of the most viruent dis
eases and making obvious the means of proven
( ikea and the suggestion that vaccination may be
eKSended to the prevention mitigation of
SRsay other diseases than smalpoX-these are
matters of inexpressible interest. The progress
Iszsie in conservative surgery, by which amputa-
4iot is very much less frequent, and by which
iialbs may be saved from shortcomings and other
designations is hardly less interesting.
ar Franklin was once asked for a gift of
i1sEnd by man in need, who promised to return
il 30 him. The Doctor told him, instead of re-
burning it, to give a like amount to the next
IRsa he found i'll need, with instructions to him
to give it to the next man in like condition; and
On, and then the pound might be made useful
fSg purposes of charity for generations The
benefits conferred upon medical science, young
gentlemen, by illustrious servants of your pro
fesSsion, impose upon you duty to endeavor in
yuEr day to render an equivalent by like serv-
sca 10 your profession, and to enioin upon those
who follow you similar duty. The past has
been to you a period of leisure in which you
have had opportunity to give more days than
yO1 can hereafter give hours to professional
study. Yet when we see how Mr.. Gladstone, in
the midst of his most absorbing duties as a
statesman has been able to find time to pursue
fine study of Homer and to write much on sub
jec&S wholly foreign to politics, and how his
rival Lord Beaeonsheld, in the midst of the
most active engagements of public life able
to prepare many works Of fiction intended to
cenvey to the people what he deemed important
thoughts upon political and other topics which
he could not convey through speeches. we can
learn how, by methodical habits and strict econ
0sny of time, a vast amount of work may be
dSne which to a mind, not resolved, seems impos
sible 1t is only by mastering opportunity in
This way that you can attain to distinction in
your profession.
But as a practicing physician, great general
knowledge in your profession is not sufficient
No physician is fit to be intrusted with the life
Of patient who does not give to the particular
caSe in hand close and watchful examination and
etndy. His supreme duty is to the particular
case. The patient intrusted to his skill has a
right to have his whole case known, so
far as inquiry and examination and
vigilance and thought reveal it
to his physician. The lawyer who relies upon a
general knowledge of law is never successful
one. The successful one is he who, with fair
general knowledge, gives to the case in hand the
most persistent and tenacious study and UNI
Wearying preparation. 1t is not less 50 with the
physician.
SIR. Blaine used to say that it was said of
Washington that it was place where every man
had some other man to do his work for him. |
am sure. when turn to my friends Colonel Cum
back and DR.. Comingor, that ] am in place
where others can do my present work better
for me better than | can do it for myself, and |
shall, therefore, now turn 1T over to them. Some
nan whose name should be remembered. has
said that he did like the oyster for it knew
how TO shut up" am sure that under the Cir
cnmstances I shall do right in now initiating the
example Of this humble member of the animal
kingdom.
After cornet solo by Mr.. J. B. Cameron,
Hon. Will Cumback made the address on behalf
of the faculty.
MR. CUMBACK's ADDRESS.
Mr.. Cumback introduced his address by say
ing:
During the late war while was stationed in
Washington l called President Lincoln one
day, and he told that ex-senator John B.
Weller had that day applied to him for the posi-
ton of commodore in the navy The President
said: j asked Mr.. Weller what he knew about
naval affairs, and he said he knew nothing what
ever, but he added that from the character of
some of the brigadier generals l had recently ap-
pointed he thought the less he knew the better