Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-20

Oliver Wendell Holmes In July Atlantic
THE ART OF The physicap can do much % -
influences, and something 10 control or arrest
the effects of these influences But look ut tte
records OF the life insurance Offices and
how uniform is the action Of natures destrssv.
Ing agencies. Look at the annual reports of
the deaths in any OF our great cities, and
on he tides. and their Variations keen pace with
those OF the seasons. The inuudations OF the
the vast wave OF infantIie disease which fo~s
IN upon all our great cities with the growing
meats OF July,-than the fevers and dysenterie
which visit our rural districts I'm the months OF
the falling leaf
The physician watches these changes as the
He longs to rescue individuels. 10 prDes, cos,
munittes from the inroads OF these destroviae
agencies. He uses all the means which ex-
method which Hsenaity oan sa Ssrs r"i so
Fortunate recovery leads him TO believe nc hss
, ny upon preventive or cure for a malafy
rescued patient sounds his praises and n wide
circle OF bis patients friends Joins IN a choruus
sagacity. selfinterest conrratula,es him on 6is
having found the road Ia fortune; the sense 81
having proved benefactor of his race smoofils
tne pillow ON which he lays his head 10 dream
o. the brilliant future opening before him III
q single coincidence may lead person OF
sanguine disposition 20 believe that he has
mastered disease which had ba lied All vino
were before his time, and on which his con-
temporaries looked in hopeless imp,,.nee
what must be the effect OF n series OF such c,,-
lhcldences even on mind Of calmer temIshrs
Such series OF coincidences will happen and
theN may well deceive the very elect Think ~
pr. hush,-you know what famous man ne
was, the very head and front OF American medi-
cih science I'm his day.-and remember how he
spoke about yellow fever which he thought he
had mastered,
mus the physician is entangled I'm the mesltpS
oi wide conspiracy, in which he aud bis
patient aud their friends, and nature HERSELF
are involved What wonder that the history
al medicine should be TO sd great an extent ar
cord of seli-deusion.
III this seems "A dangerous concession 20 the
enemies of the true science and art of healing
4 VIII remind you that IL il all implied I'm tie
nrst aphorism OF Hipocrates, the father of meai-
cine; DO not draw a wrong inference from the
frank statement OF the difficulties which besef
The medical practitioner Think rather Al
are the results which the consent of the wlssssi
and most experienced among the healers of
men agrees In accepting. Think what folly
IL Is 10 cast them aside I'm favor of palpalsle
lmposifions stolen from the records of forgotten
charlatanism. or of fantastic speculations spon
from the squirting brains OF theorists as Wild
as the Egyptian astronomer
Begin Your medical studies, then, by reading
the fortieth and the following four chapters OF
hasselas. Your f1rst lesson will teach YOU mod
esty and caution in the pursuit of the most de-
Faith will come later. when YOU learn he,w
much medical science and art have actually
achieved for the relief OF mankind and haw
great are the promises IL holds out OF still
larger tr1umphs over the enemies of human
health and happiness"